- Vj  . 


ADVENTURES 


OF 


HUiTERS  AND  TRAVELLERS, 


NARRATIVES  OF  BORDER  WARFARE. 


m m ©[L©  [M]©D^ir[i[^o 


PHILADELPHIA : 

H.  C.  PECK  & TIIEO.  BLISS. 
1857. 


Entered  according  to  Act  of  Congress,  in  the  year  1852,  by 
K.  C.  TECK  & THEO.  BLISS, 

in  the  Clerk’s  Office  of  the  District  Court  of  the  Eastern  District  of 
Pennsylvania. 


MR.  BRUCE  DISCOVERING  THE  SOURCE  OF  THE  NILE. 


< 


JAMES  BRUCE. 


THRILLING  ADYENTURES 

OF 

HUNTERS  AND  TRAVELLERS. 


^i^eobei'U  of  I(|e  ^oqbcc  of 

This  great  discovery  was  effected  in  the 
year  1768,  by  James  Bruce,  a Scotch  gentle- 
man of  education  and  fortune,  and  a most 
indefatigable  traveller.  After  various  travels 
and  adventures  in  the  north  of  Africa,  and 
west  of  Asia,  he  determined  to  discover  the 

(7) 


8 


ADVENTTOES  OF  MR.  BRUCE. 


source  of  the  Nile,  of  which  the  situation 
had  been  previously  unknown  to  the  civil- 
ized world.  He  formed  the  design  while 
lying  sick  of  a fever,  at  Aleppo. 

On  his  recovery,  he  left  that  place  for 
Alexandria,  where  he  arrived  on  the  20th 
of  June,  1768.  From  hence  he  proceeded 
by  land  to  Rosetta,  where  he  embarked  on 
the  Nile  for  Cairo. 

After  impressing  the  bey  of  the  city  with 
an  idea  of  his  skill  in  medicine  and  pro- 
phecy, he  sailed  to  Syene,  visiting  in  his 
vray  thither,  the  ruins  of  Thebes ; and,  on 
the  16th  of  February,  1769,  set  out  from 
Kenne,  through  the  Thebaid  desert,  to  Cor- 
seir,  on  the  Red  Sea ; and  from  thence  pro- 
ceeded to  Tor  and  Jidda,  where  he  landed 
on  the  5th  of  May.  After  making  several 
excursions  in  Arabia  Felix,  he  quitted  Lo- 
heia,  on  the  3d  of  .September  for  Masuah; 
where,  on  his  arrival,  he  was  detained  for 
some  weeks,  by  the  treachery  and  avarice 
of  the  governor  of  that  place,  who  attempted 
to  murder  him,  in  consequenee  of  his  refusal 
to  make  him  an  enormous  present.  In  Fe- 


DISCOVEBS  THE  SOUECE  OF  THE  NILE.  9 

bruaiy,  1770,  he  entered  Gondar,  the  capital 
of  Abyssinia,  the  ras  of  which  city  appointed 
him  gentleman-usher  of  the  king’s  bed- 
chamber, commander  of  the  household  ca- 
valry, and  governor  of  a province. 

On  the  27th  of  October,  after  having 
taken  an  active  part  in  the  councils  of  the 
the  sovereign,  and  effected  several  cures  of 
persons  about  the  court  attacked  with  the 
small-pox,  he  left  the  capital  and  set  out 
in  search  of  the  source  of  the  Nile,  which 
he  discovered  at  Saccala,  on  the  14th  of  the 
following  November.  The  joy  he  felt  on 
this  occasion,  is  thus  described  by  himself : 
“It  is  easier  to  guess,  than  to  describe  the 
situation  of  my  mind  at  that  moment; 
standing  on  that  spot  which  had  baffled  the 
genius,  history,  and  inquiry  of  both  ancients 
and  moderns,  for  the  course  of  nearly  three 
thousand  years.  Kings  had  attempted  this 
discovery  at  the  head  of  armies,  and  each 
expedition  was  distinguished  from  the  last 
only  by  the  difference  of  the  numbers  which 
had  perished,  and  agreed  alone  in  the  dis- 
appointment which  had  uniformly,  and 


10 


ADVENTURES  OF  ME.  BRUCE. 


without  exception,  followed  them  all.  Fame, 
riches,  and  honor,  had  been  held  out,  for  a 
series  of  ages,  to  every  individual  of  the 
myriads  those  princes  commanded,  without 
having  produced  one  man  capable  of  grati- 
fying the  curiosity  of  his  sovereign,  or  wiping 
off  the  stain  upon  the  enterprize  and  abili- 
ties of  mankind,  or  adding  this  desideratum 
for  the  encouragement  of  geography.  Though 
a mere  private  Briton,  I triumphed  here  in 
my  own  mind  over  kings  and  their  armies ; 
and  every  comparison  was  leading  nearer 
and  nearer  to  the  presumption,  when  the 
place  itself  where  I stood,  the  object  of  my 
vain-glory,  suggested  what  depressed  my 
short-lived  triumphs.  I was  but  a few  mi- 
nutes arrived  at  the  source  of  the  Nile, 
through  numberless  dangers  and  suiferings, 
the  least  of  which  would  have  overwhelmed 
me,  but  for  the  continual  goodness  and 
and  protection  of  Providence ; I was,  how- 
ever, then  but  half  through  my  journey, 
and  all  those  dangers  which  I had  already 
passed,  awaited  me  again  on  my  return.  I 
found  despondency  gaining  ground  fast 


TAKES  PART  IN  THE  WAR.  11 

upon  me,  and  blasting  the  crown  of  laurels 
I had  rashly  woven  for  myself.” 

After  returning  to  Gondar,  our  traveller 
found  much  difficuly  in  obtaining  permission 
to  proceed  on  his  way  homeward ; it  being 
a rule  with  the  inhabitants  never  to  allow 
a stranger  to  quit  Abyssinia.  A civil  war 
breaking  out  in-  the  country  about  the  pe- 
riod of  his  intended  departure,  he  was  com- 
pelled to  remain  in  it  till  December  of  the 
following  year,  and  took  part  in  one  of  their 
battles,  in  which  his  valiant  conduct  was 
such  that  the  king  presented  him  with  a 
rich  suit  of  apparel,  and  a gold  chain  of 
immense  value.  At  length,  at  the  end  of 
1771,  he  set  out  from  Gondar,  and,  in  the 
February  of  the  following  year,  arrived  at 
Senaar,  where  he  remained  two  months, 
sulfering  under  the  most  inhospitable  treat- 
ment, and  deceived  in  his  supplies  of  mo- 
ney, which  compelled  him  to  sell  the  gold 
chain  he  had  been  presented  with.  He  then 
proceeded  by  Chiendi,  and  Gooz,  through 
the  Nubian  desert,  and  on  the  29th  of  No- 
vember, reached  Assouan,  on  the  Nile,  aftei 


, 12  ADVENTURES  OF  MR.  BRUCE. 

a most  dreadful  and  dangerous  journey,  in 
the  course  of  which  he  lost  all  his  camels 
and  baggage,  and  twice  laid  himself  down, 
in  the  expectation  of  death.  Having  pro- 
cured, however,  fresh  camels,  he  returned 
to  the  desert,  and  recovered  most  part  of 
his  baggage,  with  which,  on  the  10th  of 
January,  he  arrived  at  Cairo;  where,  in- 
gratiating himself  with  the  bey,  he  ob- 
tained permission  for  English  commanders 
to  bring  their  vessels  and  merchandize  to 
Suez,  as  well  as  to  Jidda,  an  advantage  no 
other  European  nation  had  before  been  able 
to  acquire. 

In  the  beginning  of  March  he  arrived  at 
Alexandria,  whence  he  sailed  to  Marseilles ; 
w'here  he  landed  about  the  end  of  the  month, 
suffering  under  great  agony  from  a dis- 
ease called  the  Guinea  worm,  which  totally 
disabled  him  from  walking,  and  had  nearly 
proved  fatal  to  him  during  his  voyage.  Not- 
withstanding, however,  the  perils  he  under- 
went, and  the  barbarities  he  witnessed  in 
the  course  of  his  travels,  and  particularly 
at  Abyssinia,  yet  even  that  country  he  left 


ADVENTURES  OF  MR.  BRUCE. 


13 


with  some  regret,  and  would  often  recall, 
with  a feeling  of  tenderness,  the  kindnesses 
he  had  received  there,  especially  from  the 
ras’s  wife,  Ozoro  Esther,  between  himself 
and  whom,  a very  affectionate  intimacy  had 
existed. 


2 


The  great  island  of  Australia  is  claimed 
by  the  British  government,  which  has  a 
colony,  called  New  South  Wales,  upon  its 
southern  coast.  Many  attempts  have  been 
made  by  bold  traders  to  explore  the  interior 
of  the  island,  but  as  yet,  very  little  is  known 
about  it.  Major  Mitchell  w'as  engaged  about 
seven  months  in  exploring  the  wild  country 
north-west  of  New  South  Wales.  He  en- 
countered many  dangers  and  endured  many 
hardships.  Among  his  party  was  a gentle- 
(14) 


I 

I , 

I I 


i 

I 


A NATIVE  OF  AUSTRALIA, 


1 


/ 


FATAL  ADVENTURE  IN  AUSTRALIA.  17 

man  named  Richard  Cunningham,  who  was 
a botanist.  While  in  pursuit  of  his  favorite 
study  he  met  a most  awful  fate. 

On  the  17th  of  April,  at  the  close  of  a 
very  hot  day,  it  was  reported  that  Mr.  Cun- 
ningham was  missing.  At  first  his  absence 
did  not  create  much  uneasiness.  But  as 
the  night  passed,  and  nothing  was  heard 
of  him,  Major  Mitchell  was  fearful ' that  he 
would  perish  for  want  of  water,  in  the  arid 
region,  which  he  was  traversing.  Two  par- 
ties started  in  search  of  the  missing  bota- 
nist. But  they  sought  in  vain.  Upon  the 
23d,  two  whites  came  into  the  camp,  and 
reported  that  they  had  found  the  track  of 
Mr.  Cunningham’s  horse,  and  had  followed  it 
for  many  miles,  until  it  entered  a thicket, 
and  was  lost.  The  humane  major  imme- 
diately set  out  in  the  direction  it  was  sup- 
posed Mr.  Cunningham  would  take.  For 
several  days  the  search  was  continued. 
Every  device  was  resorted  to,  to  guide  the 
unfortunate  man  to  the  camp,  if  he  was  still 
alive.  All  was  fruitless.  His  friends  re- 
mained uncertain  of  his  fate. 


18  FATAL  ADVENTURE  IN  AUSTRALIA. 

At  length,  the  mystery  was  solved.  A 
party  sent  for  the  express  purpose  to  the 
Bogan  country,  in  October,  1835,  captured 
a band  of  forty  natives,  men,  women,  and 
children,  who  gave  up  three  men  of  their 
tribe,  as  the  murderers  of  Mr.  Cunningham. 
A knife,  a glove,  and  a cigar-case,  belong- 
ing to  that  gentleman,  were  found  in  the 
bags  of  the  tribe.  The  three  murderers 
confessed  the  deed. 

Cunningham  had  come  up  to  them  on  the 
Bogan  one  evening,  and  made  signs  for 
food.  They  gave  it  to  him,  and  he  en- 
camped with  them  that  night.  The  bota- 
nist got  up  repeatedly  in  the  night,  and 
this,  said  the  natives,  excited  their  suspi- 
cions, and  they  resolved  to  destroy  him, 
which  they  effected  by  coming  behind  him, 
and  striking  him  with  a heavy  weapon  on 
the  head.  The  truth  of  this  confession  was 
made  evident,  by  the  natives  taking  the 
party  to  the  spot,  and  showing  them  poor 
Cunningham’s  bleaching  bones.  They  were 
gathered  up,  laid  in  the  earth,  and  a humble 
mound  erected  over  them.  Unfortunately, 


FATAL  ADVENTUKE  IN  AUSTRALIA.  19 

two  of  the  murderers  escaped  from  their 
captors,  and  only  one  was  brought  down  to 
the  white  settlements  to  pay  for  his  crime. 
A fourth  man  had  been  present  at  the 
murder,  but  he  never  fell  into  the  hands  of 
the  white  party. 


Xi]C  iiic 

A Hull  whaler  was  moored  to  a field  of 
ice,  on  which,  at  a considerable  distance,  a 
large  bear  was  observed  prowling  about  for 
prey.  One  of  the  ship’s  company,  embold- 
ened by  an  artificial  courage — derived  from 
the  free  use  of  his  ram,  which  in  his  econo- 
my he  had  stored  for  special  occasions — 
(20) 


SCENE  IN  THE  ARTIC  REGIONS, 


!; 


i 

I 


MAKCIIES  TO  ATTACK  THE  BEAR. 


23 


undertook  to  pursue  and  attack  the  bear 
that  was  within  view.  Armed  only  with  a 
whale-lance,  he  resolutely,  and  against  all 
persuasion,  set  out  on  his  adventurous  ex- 
ploit. A.  fatiguing  journey  of  about  half  a 
league,  over  a surface  of  yielding  snow  and 
rugged  hammocks,  brought  him  within  a 
few  yards  of  the  enemy,  which  to  his  sur- 
prise, undauntedly  faced  him,  and  seemed 
to  invite  him  to  the  combat. 

His  courage  being,  by  this  time,  greatly 
subdued,  partly  by  the  evaporation  of  the 
stimulus  he  had  employed,  and  partly  by 
the  undismayed  and  even  threatening  aspect 
of  the  bear,  he  levelled  his  lance  in  an  atti- 
tude suited  either  to  offensive  or  defensive 
action,  and  stopped.  The  bear  also  stood 
still.  In  vain  the  adventurer  tried  to  rally 
courage  to  make  the  attack;  his  enemy 
was  too  formidable,  and  his  appearance  too 
imposing.  In  vain  also  he  shouted,  ad- 
vanced his  lance,  and  made  feints  of  attack ; 
the  enemy,  either  not  understanding  them, 
or  despising  such  unmanliness,  obstinately 
stood  his  ground.  Already  the  limbs  of 


24 


THE  SAILOR  AND  THE  BEAR. 


the  sailor  began  to  shake,  the  lance  trem- 
bled in  the  rest,  and  his  gaze,  which  had 
hither  been  steadfast,  began  to  quiver ; but 
the  fear  of  ridicule  from  his  messmates  still 
had  its  influence,  and  he  yet  scarcely  dared 
to  retreat. 

Bruin,  however,  possessing  less  reflection, 
or  being  more  regardless  of  consequences, 
began,  with  the  most  audacious  boldness, 
to  advance.  His  near  approach,  and  un- 
shaken step  subdued  the  siiark  of  bravery 
and  dread  of  ridicule  that  had  hitherto  up- 
held our  adventurer;  he  turned  and  fled. 
But  now  was  the  time  of  danger.  The 
sailor’s  flight  encouraged  the  bear  in  his 
turn  to  pursue ; and  being  better  practised 
in  snow  travelling,  and  better  provided  for 
it,  he  rapidly  gained  upon  the  fugitive.  The 
whale-lance,  his  only  defence  encumbered 
him  in  his  retreat,  he  threw  it  down  and 
kept  on.  This  fortunately  excited  the  bear’s 
attention  ; he  stopped,  pawed  it,  bit  it,  and 
then  resumed  the  chace.  Again  he  was  at 
the  heels  of  the  panting  seaman,  who,  con- 
scious of  the  favorable  eflect  of  the  lance, 


THRILLING  ESCAPE  FROM  THE  BEAR. 


dropped  a mitten ; the  stratagem  succeeded, 
and  while  Bruin  again  stopped  to  examine 
it,  the  fugitive,  improving  the  interval, 
made  considerable  progress  ahead. 

Still  the  bear  resumed  the  pursuit,  with 
the  most  provoking  perseverance,  excepting 
when  arrested  by  another  mitten,  and  finally 
by  a hat,  which  he  tore  to  shreds  between 
his  teeth  and  his  paws,  and  would  no  doubt 
have  soon  made  the  incautious  adventurer 
his  victim,  who  was  rapidly  losing  strength 
and  heart,  but  for  the  prompt,  and  well- 
timed  assistance  of  his  shipmates,  who,  ob- 
serving that  the  affair  had  assumed  a dan- 
gerous aspect,  sallied  out  to  his  rescue. 

The  little  phalanx  opened  him  a passage, 
and  then  closed  to  receive  the  bold  assail- 
ant. Though  now  beyond  the  reach  of  his 
adversary,  the  dismayed  fugitive  continued 
onward,  impelled  by  his  fears,  and  never 
relaxed  his  exertions  until  he  fairly  reached 
the  shelter  of  the  ship. 

Bruin  once  more  prudently  came  to  a 
stand,  and  for  a moment  seemed  to  survey 
his  enemies  with  all  the  consideration  of 

3 


26 


THE  SAILOR  AND  THE  BEAR. 


an  experienced  general ; when,  finding  them 
too  numerous  for  any  reasonable  hope  of 
success,  he  very  wisely  wheeled  about,  and 
succeeded  in  making  a safe  and  honorable 
retreat. 


I 

I 


I 


WOLVES  ATTACKING  A PARTY  IN  A SLEIGH, 


tolfi]  ddoibes. 


Wolves  are  still  numerous  in  some  parts 
of  France,  where  they  commit  dreadful  de- 
vastations. Even  in  the  thickly  inhabited 
districts,  these  ferocious  animals  are  some- 
times seen,  and  the  people  are  forced  to  be 
on  their  guard. 

A few  winters  ago.  Monsieur  de  B.,  an 
advocate  of  Dijon,  was  returning  rather  late 

3=1=  (29) 


30 


ADVENTURES  WITH  WOLVES. 


from  a shooting  excursion,  near  that  town, 
when  his  dog,  a small  pointer,  Avho  was  a 
few  paces  in  advance,  ran  suddenly  back, 
as  if  terrified. 

The  spot  was  a long  hollow,  formed  by 
two  sandbanks ; and  as  far  as  his  eye  could 
reach,  he  could  discover  no  cause  for  the 
animal’s  sudden  terror,  which  sent  him 
crouching  to  his  feet.  He  proceeded  cau- 
tiously, however,  cocking  both  barrels  of 
his  gun ; for  upwards  of  two  hundred  yards 
no  cause  of  alarm  presented  itself.  Indeed, 
he  had  forgotten  the  circumstance,  and 
rested  the  gun  across  his  shoulder,  when 
the  dog  again  fell  behind  him  with  an  af- 
frightened  yell.  A wolf  stood  on  the  sand- 
bank, about  thirty  yards  before  him. 

Armed  only  with  partridge  shot.  Monsieur 
de  B.  considered  it  most  prudent  to  retreat, 
and  gain  a cross  road  in  the  rear.  He  had 
not  returned  many  yards,  when  to  his  horror 
and  astonishment,  he  beheld  another  wolf 
barring  his  path  on  that  side. 

Neither  as  yet  had  ventured  to  attack 
him,  and  as  he  advanced,  each  retired;  but 


NARROW  ESCAPE  OF  A FRENCH  HUNTER.  31 

the  other  would  draw  closer  to  his  heels. 
His  situation  became  critical,  for  night  was 
approaching,  and  he  feared  that  with  it 
more  assailants  would  be  down  upon  him ; 
and  to  this  they  both  howled  as  if  to  call  a 
reinforcement,  and  the  sportsman  at  length 
felt  certain  they  were  answered  from  the 
hills.  No  time  was  to  be  lost ; he  rapidly 
advanced  on  one,  and  within  twenty  paces 
fired  both  barrels  at  him.  The  wolf  fell, 
wounded,  and  the  other  cleared  the  bank. 
Monsieur  B.,  following  his  example,  took  to 
his  heels,  and  never  drew  breath  till  he  had 
entered  Dijon. 

On  examining  the  snow  the  next  morn- 
ing, it  was  ascertained  that  he  had  been 
hotly  pursued  to  the  very  gates.  As  for 
the  wounded  wolf,  a few  bones  were  all  that 
his  comrades  had  left  of  him. 

The  wolves  of  Russia  are  noted  for  their 
sagacity.  In  the  thinly  settled  districts, 
they  are  very  abundant.  The  public  roads 
are  rendered  dangerous  by  the  number  and 
daring  character  of  these  fierce  animals. 
Travellers  are  very  often  attacked,  and  .if 


32 


ADVENTURES  WITH  WOLVES. 


they  are  not  well-armed,  or  near  to  some 
village,  their  destruction  is  certain. 

One  day  some  peasants  were  travelling, 
in  a sleigh,  when  they  were  suddenly  at- 
tacked by  a large  number  of  wolves.  The 
house,  at  which  they  intended  to  stop, 
was  about  two  miles  from  the  place  where 
they  were  attacked.  They  were  without 
weapons  of  any  kind,  and  their  only  hope 
was  in  flight.  Keeping  the  wolves  back  as 
well  as  they  could,  they  whipped  the  horses, 
and  drove  for  the  house  with  the  utmost 
speed.  The  savage  beasts  pursued,  occa- 
sionally jumping  upon  the  sleigh,  and 
snapping  their  greedy  jaws  as  they  ran  by 
the  side  of  the  horses.  The  party  reached 
the  house.  The  gate  of  the  yard  happened 
to  be  closed.  But  the  almost  maddened 
horses  dashed  it  open,  and  the  party  en- 
tered the  yard.  Nine  wolves  entered  with 
them.  Fortunately  the  gate  swung  shut, 
and  the  wolves  were  caught  in  a trap.  From 
being  the  most  ferocious  of  beasts,  the  na- 
ture of  the  animals,  now  that  they  found 
escape  impossible,  completely  changed.  So 


WOLVES  AND  VULTURES  FEASTING  ON  HUMAN  REMAINS 


I 


C 


fa 

01 

tl 

gi 

ii 

ii 

S 

a 

Ii 

n 

1 


WOLVES  AND  VULTURES. 


35 


far,  indeed,  from  attempting  to  molest  any 
one,  they  slunk  into  holes,  and  allowed 
themselves  to  be  slaughtered  without  re- 
sistance. This  escape  was  miraculous. 

The  wolf  shares  with  the  vulture  in  feast- 
ing upon  the  bodies  of  those  who  are  slain 
in  battle,  and  left  unburied  on  the  field. 
Sometimes  they  will  scratch  away  the  earth, 
and  tear  the  bodies  from  their  rude  graves. 
It  is  an  awful  sight  to  see  these  fierce  ani- 
mals making  a meal  at  midnight  upon 
human  flesh  and  bones. 


The  following  account  of  a tiger  hunt,  in 
Java,  is  given  by  a sailor,  in  a letter  to  his 
brother,  dated  December  19th,  1832. 

At  seven  o’clock,  on  the  morning  of  Oc- 
tober 2d,  I set  out  with  my  two  sons,  a 
Berzoekie  man  in  my  service,  and  about 
fifty  natives,  armed  with  pikes  and  bog- 
spears  ; I was  armed  with  a gun  and  a 
spear.  The  tiger  for  which  we  were  on  the 
look-out  was  in  a valley  about  two  miles 
and  a half  distant  from  our  port.  The  mo- 
ment we  arrived  near  him  we  commenced 
operations.  About  nine  o’clock  we  effec- 
tually drove  him  out  of  his  den  of  under- 
wood ; and  while  he  was  doubling  the  brow 
of  a hill,  I had  a rap  at  him,  which  took 
effect.  Ue  now  made  over  to  the  west  side 
of  the  valley,  and  into  a thorny  bush.  In 
half  an  hour  we  started  him  again  ; he  then 
(36) 


THE  TIGER. 


4 


‘w> 


/T'nn 

_ . ■ ■ / . > -v.  ^ 

ty;;f!  7'tf";.  ■•  ?.a  e{;i3' /•■  ''itj  fn.ilc  twt 

v6::.  •ny'iqe  iHiovn''  .'■r  '.’Ki  ’ToJJofiis 

■ Ti' \'v :i'?)  ; .,;.!  yX ip  nwoTyi) 

: £fi;.0’:O  SU;  ' bjrfKTl  htr'  !)'.7,  •• 

■■.y  r-Mir-v.*-!''  3jP1t.:>!  .3  Irk:* 


.i  v;_  •,■;■  ->77  /■;  tiac 


• ■ * • * *1 

M.ifrX. 

* 

■'i]jfr»i 

. '.yrt  u , 

-'’  > .'  .* 

'io  .JiOi'  ;:>' 

f ^ • 1 ; 

. ■■  pr 

fd  j.'.j 

V ' ' .‘/i  i‘  p^;ifHi 

t-‘ 

' ' ,3^ 

:M 

.y  ME.  :r.iA 

. , f - ■■ 

• V j. 

. * -«' 
■•ti'ii'  „Yir^s 

i'.  4i  )t  nUjp 

. v'  V'^.  ...'Xj 

.XxJ*  .,2 

1 ' i '■'^'-  • jL' 

.!  ojr 

y ^X  ..  ^ '-"-w  ■ ^ 

■rr.^  vrr  ■•- ' ^ '■••  •■ofo's 

^r,  y,  ' . _-  ■ . ■ . ’ ' ' . 

i 9;;  ;c  ■ ^ v*  , ■ 

■ ’^'  -.^***^' r"^'  >.*s‘ ..  '^■»,.'‘**  ' ' -i  ■'”  *3  ^ . 

*‘  • • ' ‘ ';■  .> -'X'iiu  •.  t)ii  . 


I'k  f 

A 


REMARKABLE  TIGER  RUNT. 


39 


ran  along  the  western  side  of  the  valley  into 
another  bush:  several  spears  were  now 
thrown  at  him,  but  without  effect. 

We  followed,  and  soon  roused  him  again ; 
he  now  made  a start  for  his  old  station  on 
the  east  side  of  the  valley ; he  seemed  to 
be  very  much  fagged  on  account  of  the  heat 
and  a want  of  water,  and  it  became  difficult 
to  arouse  him;  several  spears  flew  after 
him,  but  they  fell  short.  All  this  time, 
although  pretty  close,  I could  not  get  a shot 
at  him,  sometimes  on  account  of  my  people, 
and  at  others  not  wishing  ta  throw  a shot 
away,  not  knowing  how  soon  I might  re- 
quire it  in  self-defence.  Close  to  his  heels, 
we  followed  him  across  the  valley. 

He  now  took  shelter  in  a bush  on  the  side 
of  a hill,  where  he  remained  growling  for 
some  time.  He  saw  that  he  was  in  danger, 
so  he  made  a start  from  that  bush  to  an- 
other, just  at  my  feet,  and  lay  for  at  least 
ten  minutes,  not  ten  yards  from  where  I 
was  with  one  of  my  sons,  who  was  making 
an  opening  into  the  bush,  so  that  at  length 
I got  a clear  sight  of  him ; but  before  we 


40 


REMARKABLE  TIGER  HUNT. 


could  finish  our  task,  he  made  a spring  with 
an  intention  to  clear  the  heads  of  three  men 
who  were  to  my  right  at  about  a fathom 
distance,  but  they  received  and  put  three 
pikes  and  a hogspear  into  him  : the  former 
entered  his  belly,  the  latter  entered  his 
right  shoulder ; this  he  took  with  him,  but 
the  pike  staves  all  broke. 

This  shock  to  his  frame  brought  him 
down  on  one  of  the  men,  on  whom  he  left 
the  marks  of  three  of  his  paws,  but  he  got 
into  a bush  before  I could  turn  round  to 
have  a rap  at  him.  This  was  his  last  move. 
It  was  now  just  twelve  at  noon.  We  ga- 
thered up  our  broken, pike-staves,  bound  up 
the  wounds  of  our  man,  and  sent  him  otf 
to  the  mill,  to  await  our  arrival;  but  de- 
termined not  to  give  up  our  prize,  we  re- 
mained quiet  for  about  an  hour,  to  rest  our- 
selves. During  this  time  he  growled  once, 
but  faintly ; he  was  at  that  time  di’awing 
the  hogspear  out  of  his  right  shoulder.  This 
gave  him  much  pain,  and  made  him  growl. 
We  now  saw  the  bush  shake  very  much,  so 
again  we  began  operations,  by  cutting  down 


REMARKABI.E  TIGER  HUNT. 


41 


the  small  bushes  to  get  a sight  of  him ; this 
was  soon  done,  and  I put  a shot  into  his 
head.  Our  work  was  now  done,  so  we  went 
up  to  him. 

I had  him  carried  home.  His  weight  was 
three  hundred  and  thirty-three  pounds ; he 
stood  three  feet  three  inches  high ; length 
of  body  six  feet,  tail  two  feet  four  inches.  I 
then  dressed  the  wounded  hunter.  He  was 
fourteen  days  under  my  hands.  He  had 
ten  wounds  on  his  body,  left  arm  and  head. 
This,  you  will  say  is  no  children’s  play. 


/ 


Jgcfipc  of  jb)o  hop  fi'olfi)  ip 

In  the  fall  of  the  year  1793,  two  boys, 
named  John  and  Henry  Johnson,  whose  pa- 
rents lived  near  Carpenter’s  station,  on  the 
east  side  of  the  Ohio  river,  were  captured 
by  two  Indians,  who  lay  in  ambush  near 
the  house.  After  travelling  nearly  all  day, 
the  Indians  halted,  and  kindled  a tire. 

When  night  came  on  the  lire  w’as  covered 
up,  the  boys  pinioned,  and  made  to  lie  down 
together.  The  Indians  then  placed  the 
hoppis  straps  over  them,  and  lay  down,  one 
on  each  side  of  them,  on  the  ends  of  the 
(42) 


AN  INDIAN  GlIIEF. 


M^^df  'mm 

?}■' 


45 


THE  boys’  stratagem. 

straps.  Pretty  late  in  the  night  the  In- 
dians fell  asleep  ; and  one  of  them  becom- 
ing cold,  caught  hold  of  John  in  his’arms, 
and  turned  him  over  on  the  outside.  In  this 
situation,  the  boy,  who  had  kept  awake, 
found  means  to  get  his  hands  loose.  He 
then  whispered  to  his  brother,  made  him 
get  up,  and  untied  his  arms.  This  done, 
Henry  thought  of  nothing  but  running  off 
as  fast  as  possible ; but  when  about  to  start, 
John  caught  hold  of  him,  saying,  “ We  must 
kill  these  Indians  before  w'e  go.”  After 
some  hesitation,  Henry  agreed  to  make  the 
attempt.  John  then  took  one  of  the  rifles 
of  the  Indians,  and  placed  it  on  a log,  wdth 
the  muzzle  close  to  the  head  of  one  of  them. 
He  then  cocked  the  gun,  and  placed  his 
little  brother  at  the  breech,  with  his  finger 
on  the  trigger,  with  instructions  to  pull  it 
as  soon  as  he  should  strike  the  other  Indian. 

He  then  took  one  of  the  Indian’s  toma- 
hawks, and,  standing  astride  of  the  other 
Indian,  struck  him  with  it.  The  blow,  how- 
ever fell  on  the  back  of  the  neck  and  to  one 
side,  so  as  not  to  be  fatal.  The  Indian  then 


46  ESCAPE  OF  TWO  BOYS  FPvOM  THE  INDIANS. 

attempted  to  spring  up,  but  the  little  fellow 
repeated  the  blow  with  such  force  and  ra- 
pidity on  the  skull,  that,  as  he  expressed  it, 
“ the  Indian  lay  still  and  began  to  quiver.” 
At  the  moment  of  the  first  stroke  given 
by  the  elder  brother  wdth  the  tomahawk, 
the  younger  one  pulled  the  trigger,  and 
shot  away  a considerable  portion  of  the  In- 
dian’s lower  jaw.  This  Indian,  a moment 
after  receiving  thd  shot,  began  to  flounce 
about  and  yell  in  the  most  frightful  manner. 
The  boys  then  made  the  best  of  their  way 
to  the  fort,  and  reached  it  a little  before 
daybreak.  On  getting  near  the  fort  they 
found  the  people  all  up  and  in  great  agita- 
tion on  their  account.  On  hearing  a woman 
exclaim,  “ Poor  little  fellows  they  are  killed 
or  taken  prisoners !”  the  oldest  one  an- 
swered, “No,  mother,  we  are  here  yet.” 
Having  brought  nothing  away  with  them 
from  the  Indian  camp,  their  relation  of  what 
had  taken  place  between  them  and  the  In- 
dians was  not  fully  credited.  A small  party 
was  soon  made  up  to  go  and  ascertain  the 
truth  or  falsehood  of  their  report. 


INDIAN  PERSEVERANCE. 


47 


On  arriving  at  the  place  they  found  the 
Indian  whom  the  oldest  brother  had  toma- 
hawked, lying  dead  in  the  camp : the  other 
had  crawled  away,  and  taken  his  gun  and 
shot-pouch  with  him.  After  scalping  the 
Indian,  the  party  returned  to  the  fort ; and 
the  same  day  a larger  party  went  out  to 
look  after  the  wounded  Indian,  who  had 
crawled  some  distance  from  the  camp,  and 
concealed  himself  in  the  top  of  a fallen  tree, 
where,  notwithstanding  the  severity  of  the 
wound,  he  determined  to  sell  his  life  as 
dearly  as  possible. 

Having  fixed  his  gun  for  the  purpose,  on 
the  approach  of  the  men  to  a proper  dis- 
tance, he  took  aim  at  one  of  them,  and 
pulled  the  trigger,  but  his  gun  missed  fire. 
The  party,  concluding  that  the  Indian 
would  die  at  any  rate,  thought  best  to  re- 
treat, and  return  and  look  for  him  after 
some  time.  On  returning,  however,  he 
could  not  be  found,  having  crawled  away 
and  concealed  himself  in  some  other  place. 
His  skeleton  and  gun  were  found  some  time 
afterwards. 


Mr.  Moore  resided  in  the  north-western 
part  of  Virginia,  wliieh  Avas  frequently  over- 
run by  parties  of  Indians  from  the  Shawnese 
towns. 

On  the  14th  of  July,  1786,  early  in  the 
morning,  a gang  of  horses  had  come  in  from 
the  lick-blocks,  about  one  hundred  yards 
from  the  house,  and  Mr.  Moore  had  gone 
out  to  salt  them.  Two  men  also,  Avho  were 
living  with  him,  had  gone  out,  and  were 
reaping  wheat.  The  Indians,  about  thirty 
(48) 


p 


MR.  MOORE  SCALPED.  51  f 

1 

in  number,  who  were  lying  in  ambush,  ' 

watching  the  house,  supposing  that  all  the  ! 

men  were  absent,  availed  themselves  of  the 
opportunity,  and  rushed  forward  with  all  | 

speed.  As  they  advanced  they  commenced  | 

firing,  and  killed  three  of  the  children,  viz. 

William  and  Kebecca,  who  were  returning  ! 

from  the  spring,  and  Alexander  in  the  yard. 

Mr.  Moore  attempted  to  get  to  the  house, 
but  finding  it  surrounded,  ran  past  it  i 

through  a small  pasture  in  which  the  house 
stood.  When  he  reached  the  fence  he  made 
a halt,  and  was  shot  through  with  seven 
bullets.  The  Indians  said  he  might  have 
escaped  if  he  had  not  stopped  on  the  fence.  \ 

After  he  was  shot  he  ran  about  forty  yards,  ■ 

and  fell.  He  was  then  scalped  by  the  In-  i 

dians,  and  afterwards  buried  by  the  whites  1 

at  the  place  where  the  body  lay,  and  where  > 

his  grave  may  yet  be  seen.  It  was  thought  i 

that  when  he  saw  his  family  about  to  be  [, 

massacred,  without  the  possibility  of  ren-  i 

dering  them  any  assistance,  he  chose  to  I 

share  a like  fate. 

There  were  two  fierce  dogs,  which  fought  : 


52  CAPTURE  OF  MR.  MOORe’S  FAMILY. 

like  heroes  until  the  fiercest  one  was  killed. 
The  two  men  who  were  reaping,  hearing 
the  alarm  and  seeing  the  house  surrounded, 
fled,  and  alarmed  the  settlement.  At  that 
time  the  nearest  family  was  six  miles  dis- 
tant. As  soon  as  the  alarm  was  given,  Mrs. 
Moore  and  Miss  Martha  Ivins,  who  was 
living  in  the  family,  helping  them  to  spin, 
barred  the  door,  but  this  was  of  no  avail. 
There  was  no  man  in  the  house  except  John. 
Simpson,  an  old  Englishman,  and  he  was 
on  the  loft  sick,  and  in  bed.  There  were 
five  or  six  guns  in  the  house,  but  having 
been  shot  off  the  evening  before,  they  where 
then  empty.  It  was  intended  to  have 
loaded  them  after  breakfast.  Martha  Ivins 
took  two  of  them  and  went  up  stairs  were 
Simpson  was,  and,  handing  them  to  him, 
told  him  to  shoot.  He  looked  up,  but  had 
been  shot  in  the  head  through  a crack,  and 
was  then  near  his  end. 

Martha  then  went  to  a far  end  of  the 
house,  lifted  up  a loose  plank,  and  went 
under  the  floor.  Polly  Moore,  a child  of 
about  eight  years,  hid  behind  some  barrels 


BURNING  OF  THE  DWELLING. 


53 


in  the  loft.  In  the  meantime,  the  Indians 
cut  down  the  door,  and  entered  the  house. 
Mrs.  Moore  and  her  children,  John,  Jane, 
Peggy,  and  were  soon  secured.  An  Indian 
then  went  up  into  the  loft,  where  he  found 
Polly,  almost  frightened  to  death,  huddled 
behind  the  barrels. 

The  Indians  then  left  the  house,  with 
their  prisoners ; and  Martha,  thinking  they 
had  gone  away  entirely,  came  from  her 
hiding-place,  ran  out  and  got  behind  a log, 
not  far  from  the  house.  The  Indians  were 
still  about,  trying  to  catch  the  horses,  and 
preparing  to  set  the  dwelling  and  out-houses 
on  fire.  Martha  believing  that  one  of  them 
saw  her  behind  the  log,  got  up  and  ran  to- 
towards  a small  building,  near  the  dwelling, 
used  as  a tool-house.  As  she  reached  the 
door,  an  Indian  threw  his  tomahawk  at  her. 
The  weapon  buried  itself  in  the  door,  near 
Martha’s  head,  and  she  was  uninjured.  She 
then  reflected  that  escape  was  impossible, 
and  gave  herself  up,  at  which  the  Indian 
seemed  very  much  pleased.  The  houses 
were  then  set  on  fire. 


5* 


54  CAPTURE  OP  MR.  MOORE’S  FAMILY. 

The  whole  party  then  set  out  for  the  In- 
dian towns.  Pereeiving  that  John  Moore 
was  a boy,  weak  in  body  and  mind,  and 
unable  to  travel,  they  killed  him  the  first 
day.  The  babe,  Margaret,  they  took  two  or 
three  days,  but  it  being  fretful,  on  aecount 
of  a wound  it  had  received,  they  dashed  its 
brains  out  against  a tree.  They  then  moved 
on  with  haste  to  their  towns.  For  some 
time  it  was  usual  to  tie  very  securely  each 
of  the  prisoners  at  night;  and  for  a warrior 
to  lie  beside  each  of  them  with  tomahawk 
in  hand,  so  that  in  case  of  pursuit,  the  pri- 
soners might  be  speedily  dispatched. 

Not  unfrequently  they  were  several  days 
without  food,  and  when  they  killed  game, 
their  habit  was  to  make  broth.  When  they 
reach  their  town,  they  were  soon  assembled 
in  council,  when  an  old  man  made  a long 
speech  to  them  dissuading  them  from  war ; 
but  at  the  close  of  it  the  warriors  shook 
their  heads  and  retired.  The  old  man  after- 
wards took  Polly  Moore  into  his  family, 
where  he  and  his  wife  seemed  greatly  to 
commiserate  her  situation,  and  showed  all 


Martha’s  escape  to  the  tool-house, 


TWO  PRISONERS  BURNED  AT  THE  STAKE.  57 

possible  kindness.  Shortly  after  they  ar- 
(rived  at  the  towns,  Mrs.  Moore  and  her 
daughter  Jane  were  put  to  death,  being 
burned  at  the  stake.  This  lasted  some 
time,  during  which  she  manifested  the  ut- 
most Christian  fortitude,  and  bore  it  with- 
out a murmur — at  intervals  conversing  with 
her  daughter,  Polly,  and  Martha  Ivins,  and 
expressing  great  anxiety  for  the  moment  to 
arrive  when  her  soul  should  wing  its  way 
to  the  bosom  of  her  Saviour.  At  length  an 
old  squaw,  more  humane  than  the  rest,  dis- 
patched her  with  a tomahawk. 

This  tribe  of  Indians  proving  very  trou- 
blesome to  the  whites,  it  was  repeatedly 
contemplated  to  send  an  expedition  to  their 
town.  This  it  is  probable,  Martha  Ivins  in 
some  measure  postponed,  by  sending  com- 
munications through  the  traders,  urging  the 
probable  fate  of  the  prisoners,  if  it  were 
done  immediately.  In  November,  two  years 
afterwards,  however,  such  an  expedition 
did  go  out.  The  Indians  were  aware  of  it 
from  about  the  time  it  started,  and  when  it 
drew  near  they  concealed  what  they  could 


58  CAPTURE  OF  MR.  MOORE’S  FAMILY. 

not  carry  off,  and,  with  the  prisoners,  left 
their  towns.  About  this  time  Polly  Moore 
had  serious  thoughts  of  concealing  herself 
until  the  arrival  of  the  whites  ; but  fearing 
the  consequences  of  a greater  delay  in  their 
arrival  than  she  might  anticipate,  she  did 
not  attempt  it. 

Late  in  November,  however,  the  expedi- 
tion did  arrive,  and  after  having  burned 
their  towns,  destroyed  their  corn,  &c.,  re- 
turned home.  After  this  the  Indians  re- 
turned to  their  towns ; but  winter  having 
set  in,  and  finding  themselves  without 
houses  or  food,  they  were  greatly  dispirited, 
and  went  to  Detroit,  where,  giving  them- 
selves up  to  great  excess  in  drinking,  they 
sold  Polly  Moore  to  a man  living  in  or  near 
a little  village  named  French  Town,  near 
the  western  end  of  Lake  Erie,  for  half  a 
gallon  of  rum.  Though  at  this  time  the 
winter  was  very  severe,  the  released  captive 
had  nothing  to  protect  her  feet  but  a pair 
of  deerskin  moccasins. 

Martha  Ivins,  and  Polly  and  Peggy  Moore, 
were  ransomed  some  months  after  this  time. 


SURVIVORS  RETURN  HOME, 


59 


They  displayed  much  fortitude  amid  the 
dreadful  suffering  they  were  compelled  to 
undergo,  yet  it  was  very  long  before  they 
could  shake  off  the  remembrance  of  the 
horrible  fate  of  the  other  members  of  their 
family. 


?^e3ei|e  of 


In  1764,  a party  of  about  fifty  Indians 
entered  the  northern  part  of  Virginia,  and 
then  dividing  into  two,  one  went  towards 
the  Koanoke  and  Catawba  settlements,  and 
the  other  in  the  direction  of  Jackson’s  river, 
where  each  committed  murders  and  depre- 
dations. Captain  Paul  was  then  in  com- 
mand of  the  garrison  of  Fort  Dinwiddie. 
Hearing  of  the  depredations  of  the  Indians 
who  visited  Jackson’s  river,  he  went  in  pur- 
(60) 


THE  MASSACRE. 


/ 


\ 


CAPTAIN  PAUL  SURPRISES  THE  INDIANS.  63 

suit  of  them.  After  a long  and  rapid 
march,  in  the  direction  it  was  supposed  the 
red  men  had  taken,  the  captain  accidentally 
came  upon  them  at  midnight,  as  they  were 
encamped  on  New  Eiver,  at  the  mouth  of 
Indian  creek. 

The  whites  delivered  their  fire,  and  then 
rushed  in  upon  the  startled  foe.  The 
struggle  was  short.  Most  of  the  Indians 
fled,  or  were  killed  or  captured.  One  of 
them  went  up  to  a woman,  who  sat  com- 
posed upon  the  ground,  and  was  about  to 
strike  his  tomahawk  into  her  head,  when  a 
bold  ranger  rushed  between  and  took  the 
Indian  by  the  throat.  He  was  about  to 
draw  his  knife  and  stab  him,  when  Captain 
Paul  interfered  and  took  the  man  from  him. 
Paul  was  ever  anxious  to  save  life.  He 
never  slew  when  he  could  capture.  Another 
one  of  his  men  was  about  to  strike  his  tom- 
ahawk into  the  head  of  the  supposed  squaw, 
when  the  captain  threw  himself  between, 
and  received  the  blow  upon  his  arm.  “ It’s 
a shame  to  hurt  a woman,  even  a squaw.” 
She  proved  to  be  Mrs.  Catharine  Gunn,  an 


64 


KESCUE  OF  CATHARINE  GUNN. 


English  woman,  an  acquaintance  of  Captain 
Paul,  made  prisoner  on  the  Catawba  a few 
days  before,  when  her  husband  and  two 
children  were  killed. 

The  captain  asked  her  why  she  did  not 
make  known  that  she  was  a prisoner,  by 
crying  out.  The  poor  woman  replied : “I 
had  as  soon  be  killed  as  not — my  husband 
is  murdered — my  children  are  slain — my 
parents  are  dead.  I have  not  a relation  in 
America — every  thing  dear  to  me  is  gone ; 
I have  no  wishes,  no  hopes,  no  fears — I 
would  not  have  risen  to  my  feet  to  have 
saved  my  life.”  These  w^ords  are  the  simple 
expression  of  utter  despair — of  a spirit  dead 
to  the  world  before  its  time  had  come  to 
seek  another  sphere.  Having  punished  the 
savages  for  their  atrocities.  Captain  Paul 
returned  to  Fort  Dinwiddle. 


■'f* 


f.'V, 

Ti  ■' 

rlfi 

'?£'  ilfi  ,aS’.: 

v'V  T'i* 

■ 

#/")l 

f;  /;.'  V..  •:, 

ylii 

•=ii^ 

o>n 

},'i!.f  bi’v 

- S * ' 4 ^ 

• '■ 

V f 

• j. 

T ’ » - > -•  ; < 

.,<01  £ 

i)lil  fMi‘4 

' 

’A* 

L 

f 

/lOMfV.l"'  f ' 

. ;nr/ 

n 

er 

■'-.  Kc,!!'''.  avj^  tiA 

^ rr 

■ t. 

1 

. n i 

^•UylfOV? 

!>:r^ 

V ■ 

lit.  ; 

i'  ? i!  "j 

C-r  J 

(.'  »: 

Y(iL 

' £ii';J>  i). 

• 

: 

fb'V  -/w- 

r,(.\-‘  T 
. it i j-  ^ ri^ 

itj  l£OsJ(.:bi  4' 

r.  p 

' Jir-'V 

; '>jr 

<);a' 

<:j.i  ‘t.r  •' 

!- 

yi’^t  :;.,.v. 

■ y- -jf  -: 

'1;.: 

>ir>‘j^  ■'  bit , 

■; 

• r .'■  i 

-^)V  Jl 

W 't: 

’ I"  ' ; ^ , ■ . L ,k'  ■ f 0-.  , 

|»i;?)b  hiiq'-  ^'!-b--  -').riiu%.f)b’)l>^ rt?#i#.<i':‘i(M2'.i  . . 
oj  vmuv. 

Mil )■']'■ 'if ,.  -;! 

llJJl'l  iefe*!l  ;jf*/  •>  -JC-.  :.;<pty-'a  "i' 


0 ' 


I*.  "■ 


■’  r.v 

y U^:  ; 


» % 


-C 


r ■ ■ 


ft*! 


POE’S  fight  with  two  INDIANS, 


foe's  Tigiii  ftoo 

About  the  middle  of  July,  1782,  seven 
Wyandotts  crossed  the  Ohio  a few  miles 
above  Wheeling,  and  committed  great  de- 
. predations  upon  the  southern  shore,  killing 
an  old  man  whom  they  found  alone  in  his 
cabin,  and  spreading  terror  throughout  the 
neighborhood.  Within  a few  hours  after 
their  retreat,  eight  men  assembled  from  dif- 
ferent parts  of  the  small  settlement,  and 

(67) 


68  ADAM  foe’s  fight  WITH  TWO  INDIANS 

pursued  the  enemy  with  great  expedition. 
Among  the  most  active  and  efficient  of  the 
party,  were  two  brothers,  Adam  and  Andrew 
Poe.  They  had  not  followed  the  trail  far, 
before  they  became  satisfied  that  the  de- 
predators were  conducted  by  Big  Foot,  a 
renowned  chief  of  the  Wyandott  tribe,  who 
derived  his  name  from  the  immense  size  of 
his  feet. 

Adam  Poe  was  overjoyed  at  the  idea  of 
measuring  his  strength  with  that  of  so  cele- 
brated a chief,  and  urged  the  pursuit  with 
a keenness  that  soon  brought  him  in  the 
vicinity  of  the  enemy.  For  the  last  few 
miles,  the  trail  had  led  them  up  the  southern 
bank  of  the  Ohio,  where  the  footprints  in 
the  sand  were  deep  and  obvious,  but  Avhen 
within  a few  hundred  yards  of  the  point  at 
which  the  whites  as  tvell  as  the  Indians 
were  in  the  habit  of  crossing,  it  suddenly 
diverged  from  the  stream,  and  stretched 
along  a rocky  ridge.  Here  Adam  halted, 
for  a moment,  and  directed  his  brother  and 
the  other  young  men  to  follow  the  trail  with 
proper  caution,  while  he  himself  still  ad- 


POE  DISCOVERS  BIG  FOOT. 


69 


heved  to  the  river  path,  which  led  through  a 
cluster  of  willows  directly  to  the  point  where 
he  supposed  the  enemy  to  lie.  Having  ex- 
amined the  priming  of  his  gun,'  he  crept 
cautiously  through  the  bushes,  until  he  had 
a view  of  the  point  of  embarkation.  Here 
lay  two  canoes,  showing  that  the  Indians 
were  close  at  hand,  he  relaxed  nothing  of 
his  vigilance,  and  gaining  a jutting  cliff, 
which  hung  immediately  over  the  canoes, 
he  peered  cautiously  over,  and  beheld  the 
object  of  his  search. 

The  gigantic  Big  Foot,  lay  below  him  in 
the  shade  of  a’  willow,  and  w'as  talking  in 
a.  low  deep  tone  to  another  warrior,  who 
seemed  a mere  pigmy  by  his  side.  ■ Adam 
cautiously  drew  back  and  cocked  his  gun. 
The  mark  was  fair — the  distance  did  not 
exceed  twenty  feet,  and  his  aim  was  unerring. 
Raising  his  rifle  slowly  and  cautiously,  he 
took  a steady  aim  at  Big  Foot’s  breast,  and 
drew  the  trigger.  His  gun  flashed.  Both 
Indians  sprung  to  their  feet  with  a deep 
interjection  of  surprise.  Adam  was  too 
much  hampered  by  the  bushes  to  retreat, 


70  ADAM  foe’s  fight  WITH  TWO  INDIANS. 

and  setting  his  life  upon  a cast  of  the  die, 
he  sprung  over  the  bush  which  had  shel- 
tered him,  and  summoning  all  his  powers, 
leaped  boldly  down  the  precipice  upon  the 
breast  of  Big  Foot  with  a shock  that  bore 
him  to  the  earth. 

At  the  moment  of  contact,  Adam  had 
thrown  his  right  arm  around  the  neck  of 
the  smaller  Indian,  so  that  all  three  came 
to  the  earth  at  once.  At  that  moment  a 
sharp  firing  was  heard  among  the  bushes 
above,  announcing  that  the  other  parties 
were  engaged,  but  the  trio  below  were  too 
busy  to  attend  to  any  thing  but  themselves. 
Big  Foot  was  for  an  instant  stunned  by  the 
violence  of  the  shock,  and  Adam  Avas  ena- 
bled to  keep  them  both  down.  But  the 
exertion  necessary  for  that  purpose  Avas  so 
great,  that  he  had  no  leisure  to  use  his 
knife.  Big  Foot  quickly  recovered,  and 
Avithout  attempting  to  rise,  wrapped  his 
long  arms  around  Adam’s  body,  and  pressed 
him  to  his  breast  with  the  crushing  force 
of  a boa  constrictor. 

Adam  instantly  relaxed  his  hold  of  the 


THRILLING  SITUATION"  OF  POE. 


71 


small  Indian,  who  sprung  to  his  feet.  Big 
Foot  then  ordered  him  to  run  for  his  toma- 
hawk, which  lay  within  ten  steps,  and  kill 
the  white  man  while  he  held  him  in  his 
arms.  Adam,  seeing  his  danger,  struggled 
manfully  to  extricate  himself  from  the  folds 
of  the  giant,  but  in  vain.  The  lesser  In- 
dian approached  with  his  uplifted  toma- 
hawk, but  Adam  watched  him  closely,  and 
as  he  was  about  to  strike,  gave  him  a kick 
so  sudden  and  violent,  as  to  knock  the  tom- 
ahawk out  of  his  hand,  and  send  him  stag- 
gerihg  back  into  the  water.  But  the  lesser 
Indian  again  approached,  carefully  avoiding 
Adam’s  heels,  and  making  many  motions 
with  his  tomahawk,  in  order  to  deceive  him 
as  to  the  point  where  the  blow  would  fall. 

Such  was  Adam’s  dexterity  and  vigilance, 
however,  that  he  managed  to  receive  the 
tomahawk  in  a glancing  direction  upon  the 
left  wrist,  wounding  him  deeply,  but  not 
disabling  him.  He  now  made  a sudden  and 
desperate  effort  to  free  himself  from  the 
arms  of  the  giant,  and  succeeded.  Instantly 
snatching  up  a rifle,  for  the  Indian  could 


72  ADAM  foe’s  fight  WITH  TWO  INDIANS. 

not  venture  to  shoot  for  fear  of  hurting  his 
companion,  he  shot  the  lesser  Indian  through 
the  body.  But  scareely  had  he  done  so, 
when  Big  Foot  arose,  and  placing  one  hand 
upon  his  collar,  and  the  other  upon  his  hip, 
pitched  him  into  the  air,  as  he  himself 
would  have  iiitched  a child. 

Adam  fell  upon  his  back  at  the  edge  of 
the  water,  but  before  his  antagonist  could 
spring  upon  him,  he  was  again  upon  his 
feet,  and  stung  with  rage  at  the  idea  of 
being  handled  so  easily,  he  attacked  his 
gigantic  antagonist  with  a fury  which  for  a 
time  compensated  for  inferiority  of  strength. 
It  was  now  a fair  fist  fight  between  them, 
for  in  the  hurry  of  the  struggle  neither  had 
leisure  to  draw  their  knives.  Adam’s  supe- 
rior activity  and  experience  as  a pugilist, 
gave  him  great  advantage.  The  Indian 
struck  awkwardly,  and  finding  himself  ra- 
pidly dropping  to.  leeward,  he  closed  with 
his  antagonist,  and  again  hurled  him  to  the 
ground.  They  quickly  rolled  into  the  river, 
and  the  struggle  continued  with  unabated 
fury,  each  attempting  to  drown  the  other. 


THRILLING  SITUATION  OF  POE. 


73 


The  Indian  being  unused  to  such  violent 
exertion,  and  having  been  much  injured  by 
the  first  shock  in  his  stomach,  was  unable 
to  exert  the  same  powers  which  had  given 
him  such  a superiority  at  first ; and  Adam, 
seizing  him  by  the  scalp-lock,  put  his  head 
under  water,  and  held  it  there  until  the 
faint  struggles  of  the  Indian  induced  him 
to  believe  that  he  was  drowned,  when  he 
relaxed  his  hold  and  attempted  to  draw  his 
knife.  The  Indian,  however,  instantly  re- 
gained his  feet,  and  in  his  turn  put  his  ad- 
versary under. 

In  the  struggle,  both  were  carried  out  in 
the  current  beyond  their  depth,  and  each 
was  compelled  to  relax  his  hold  and  swim 
for  his  life.  There  was  still  one  loaded  rifle 
upon  the  shore,  and  each  swam  hard  in 
order  to  reach  it,  but  the  Indian  proved  the 
most  expert  swimmer,  and  Adam  seeing 
that  he  should  be  too  late,  turned  and  swam 
out  into  the  stream,  intending  to  dive,  and 
thus  frustrate  his  enemy’s  intention. 

At  this  instant,  Andrew,  having  heard 
that  bis  brother  was  alone  in  a struggle 

7 


74  ADAM  foe’s  fight  with  two  INDIANS. 

with  two  Indians,  and  in  great  danger,  ran 
up  hastily  to  the  bank  above,  in  order  to 
assist  him.  Another  white  man  followed 
him  closely,  and  seeing  Adam  in  the  river, 
covered  with  blood,  and  swimming  rapidly 
from  shore,  mistook  him  for  an  Indian  and 
fired  upon  him,  wounding  him  dangerously 
in  the  shoulder. 

Adam  turned,  and  seeing  his  brother, 
called  loudly  upon  him  “ to  shoot  the  big 
Indian  upon  shore.”  Andrew’s  gun,  how- 
ever, was  empty,  having  just  been  dis- 
charged. Fortunately,  Big  Foot  had  also 
seized  the  gun  with  which  Adam  had  shot 
the  Indian,  so  that  both  were  upon  equality. 
The  contest  was  now  who  should  load  first. 
Fig  Foot  poured  in  his  powder  first,  and 
drawing  his  ramrod  out  of  its  sheath  in  too 
great  a hurry,  threw  it  into  the  river,  and 
while  he  ran  to  recover  it,  Andrew  gained 
an  advantage.  Still  the  Indian  'was  but  a 
second  too  late,  for  his  gun  was  at  his 
shoulder,  when  Andrew’s  ball  entered  his 
breast.  The  gun  dropped  from  his  hands 
and  he  fell  forward  upon  his  face  upon  the 


75 


ADAM  foe’s  rescue. 

very  'margin  of  the  river.  Andrew,  now 
alarmed  for  his  brother,  who  was  scarcely 
able  to  swim,  threw  down  his  gun  and 
rushed  into  the  river  and  brought  him 
ashore.  Adam  Poe  recovered  of  his  wounds, 
and  lived  many  years  after  his  conflict ; but 
never  forgot  the  tremendous  hug  which  he 
sustained  in  the  arms  of  Big  Foot. 


^JEXICAX  MULETEERS. 


in)  'i))exico, 

Mexico  is  a very  interesting  country.  The 
manners,  customs,  and  institutions  of  the 
people  are  very  different  from  those  of  the 
people  of  the  United  States.  Since  the  war 
between  the  two  great  republics,  many  tra- 
vellers from  the  States  have  visited  Mexico, 
to  see  its  grand  and  beautiful  scenery,  and 
to  gain  a knowledge  of  the  condition  of  the 
people.  Some  of  their  adventures  are  amus- 
ing and  instructive.  The  means  of  travelling 
(76) 


PUEBLA. 


: ?i  . 


•1-., . 


/ -I 


r'  . f 

Ci5iJc^-  y ’v'U  ..;  >■  • w 

■.;■  < ■ f ■ »Xi.-  ' i-**- 

_';<VT.iK  iii-;-'f<>;-‘ 

• ':J  V.Ki«6.'.--'.*V'>'^-i  •■?•'■  '■ 

..'  ^ '/  i ■ ■ * ■ 1 

‘ *'U  ?*»>♦» 


• .>■;•!  , ' ,h*  ^13  ■ 

.'^  ■ ...  '.A..:.<,  :2' . 


(i  » , » t*  7r 


MEXICAN  BRIGANDS. 


79  , 

are  very  defective,  and  nearly  all  the  roads 
are  infested  with  brigands,  who  do  not 
scruple  to  murder,  if  that  is  necessary  to 
obtain  plunder. 

Not  long  ago  a traveller  was  proceeding 
along  the  great  road,  which  leads  from  the 
city  of  Vera  Cruz  to  the  capital.  He  rode 
upon  a mule,  and  was  attended  by  two 
Mexicans,  also  upon  mules.  The  natives 
had  assured  the  traveller  that  there  was  no 
danger  of  the  brigands  attacking  him — 
that  the  troops  had  routed  them,  and  broken 
up  their  strongest  band.  Under  the  guid- 
ance of  these  men,  the  traveller  proceeded, 
in  the  full  confidence  of  safety.  But  it  seems 
that  the  guides  were  brigands  themselves, 
who  had  offered  their  services,  for  the  pur- 
pose of  lulling  the  suspicions  of  the  gentle- 
man. Not  many  miles  from  Puebla  de  los 
Angelos,  one  of  the  largest  cities  in  Mexico, 
the  road  wound  through  a deep  ravine,  upon 
each  side  of  which  were  dense  thickets. 
One  of  the  guides  suddenly  gave  a signal, 
by  a shrill  whistle,  when  the  traveller  found 
himself  surrounded. 


, 80 


ADVENTUKES  IN  MEXICO. 


BANDITS  PLUNDERING. 

All  thought  of  defence  was  useless. 
Twenty  pieces  were  at  once  leveled  at  him. 
He  made  signs  of  submission,  and  the 
pieces  were  lowered.  As  quick  as  thought, 
the  baggage  was  removed  from  the  mules, 
and  ransacked.  The  traveller  had  much 
that  was  valuable — a large  sum  of  money, 
line  clothes,  and  some  jewelry.  The  rob- 
bers took  all  that  promised  to  be  of  the 
least  use  to  them.  When  the  traveller  at- 
tempted to  remonstrate,  they  pointed  their 
weapons  at  him,  and  intimated  that  he  was 
fortunate  to  escape  with  his  life.  They  even 


CITY  OF  MEXICO 


F 


ij 

i 


THE  CARNIVAL  IN  MEXICO. . 83 

stripped  the  fine  coat  from  his  back.  Then, 
having  collected  the  plunder,  they  mounted 
it  upon  the  mules,  and  ordered  some  of  the 
party  to  drive  them  swiftly  in  one  direction, 
while  they  took  a by-path  through  the 
thicket.  The  traveller  was  then  forced  to 
walk  to  Puebla,  stripped  of  all  that  he  had 
brought  with  to  pay  his  way.  In  that  city, 
he  told  his  tale,  and  found  kind  friends 
among  the  priests,  one  of  whom  took  him 
into  his  house  to  live,  until  he  could  write 
home  to  his  family  in  the  United  States,  to 
send  him  money.  He  was  but  one  of  many 
sufferers  from  the  attacks  of  the  brigands. 

The  city  of  Mexico  is  beautifully  situated 
' in  a valley,  almost  surrounded  by  lofty 
mountains.  Its  buildings  are  generally  of 
a substantial  and  elegant  construction.  The 
inhabitants  are  lively,  intelligent,  and  fond 
of  pleasure.  The  great  square,  or  “Plaza,” 
is  thronged  at  evening,  with  promenaders 
and  pleasure-seekers.  Upon  one  side  of 
this  square  is  the  National  Palace,  a 
splendid  edifice,  where  the  members  of  the 
government  hold  their  meetings. 


84 


ADVENTURES  IN  MEXICO. 


The  great  celebration  of  the  Carnival  is 
one  of  the  most  remarkable  features  of 
Mexican  life.  Mr.  ~W.  W.  Carpenter,  thus 
narrates  what  he  saw  of  this  festival : “ The 
Mexicans  go  round  at  night,  breaking  egg- 
shells on  the  heads  of  persons.  These  are 
tilled  with  flour,  and  scented  with  Cologne, 
or  rose  water,  or  some  other  rich  odor. 
When  it  commenced  I was  standing  in  the 
the  street,  idling  away  the  time  as  best  I 
could,  when,  all  of  a sudden,  my  hat  was 
removed,  and  a number  of  these  odious 
shells  were  broken  on  my  devoted  head. 
Not  being  aware  of  the  custom,  I quickly 
turned,  and,  before  I was  aware  of  it,  had 
knocked  down  the  man  who  v'as  guilty  of  • 
what  I considered  this  insult.  A tumult 
was  raised ; they  threatened  to  kill  me,  and 
perhaps  would  have  done  so,  had  not  some 
one  gone  after  the  alcalde.  He  came  and 
inquired  into  the  matter,  then  ordered  them 
to  let  me  alone  for  the  future,  and  took  me 
back  to  his  house.  Were  it  not  for  my 
friend,  Don  Jesus  Murguir,  and  the  alcalde, 

I fear  I would  not  have  been  long  in  this 


THE  MOUNTED  PRIEST. 


85 


world ; but  when  I was  in  difficulty,  right 
or  wrong,  I was  sure  of  tlieir  protection. 

This  diversion  is  practised  several  nights 
in  succession,  varied  occasionally  by  throw- 
ing flour  in  person’s  faces.  It  is  followed 
by  the  religious  season  of  Lent,  which  con- 
tinues forty  days;  and  it  is  the  custom 
throughout  Mexico  to  have  mass,  or  at  least 
religious  service,  every  morning  during  all 
that  time.  When  the  festival  commenced, 
the  people  assembled  as  usual  in  the  morn- 
ing. When  they  came  out  of  the  church,  I 
noticed;  with  curiosity,  that  all  the  people 
had  a cross  painted  upon  their  foreheads. 
For  what  purpose  this  was  done  I could  not 
ascertain.  This  they  wore  for  one  week; 
and  then  commenced  the  processions. 

One  morning  I resolved  to  observe  one 
of  these  closely,  to  see  all  that  could  be 
seen.  The  proeession  formed  in  the  suburbs 
of  the  town,  so  thither  I went.  On  coming 
up,  I saw  the  priest  mounting  a donkey, 
richly  comparisoned,  and  led  by  two  boys. 
The  streets  were  strewed  with  flowers,  ever- 
greens, and  the  finest  blankets.  This,  I 

8 


86 


ADVENTURES  IN  MEXICO. 


suppose,  was  intended  to  represent  the  entry 
of  Christ  into  Jerusalem. 

They  were  attended  with  music,  banners 
were  flying,  and  rockets  were  fired.  They 
went  through  the  principal  streets,  then 
turned  up  to  the  church ; but  as  they  were 
going  through  the  Plaza,  some  other  donkeys 
commenced  braying,  when  the  one  that  was 
rode  by  the  representative  of  Christ  an- 
swered it,  and  started  off,  notwithstanding 
the  exertions  of  the  boys  to  prevent  him. 
When  he  found  he  had  some  difficulty  in 
getting  away,  he  began  to  kick  and  plunge, 
and,  finally,  he  threw  his  priestship  off. 
This  scene  was  so  comical  and  ridiculous, 
that,  had  it  broken  his  neck,  I could  not 
have  avoided  smiling,  and  laughing  when 
I had  a better  chance.  Not  so  with  them, 
however,  for  not  a smile  could  be  seen  on  a 
single  face.  People  were  coming  from  all 
parts  of  the  country  to  witness  the  cere- 
monies and  to  confess,  this  being  the  time 
for  a general  confession. 


AN  ARAB  ENCAMPMENT. 


IlK? 

Sir  George  Temple,  an  English  traveller, 
who  spent  some  time  among  the  Arabs, 
thus  describes  one  of  their  tournaments, 
such  as  he  frequently  witnessed ; The  tour- 
nament field  is  oblong,  and  bordered  by 
rows  of  spectators,  who  form  its  boundaries, 
by  sitting  cross-legged  round  the  open 
space. 


I)  h 

h 
!!  ' 


‘I 


i 


i 


(87) 


88  1 


AN  ARAB  TOURNAMENT. 


The  best  riders  of  the  tribe,  mounted  on 
the  most  active  horses,  are  then  introduced 
into  the  arena,  the  men  being  clothed  with 
as  much  splendor  as  their  means  will  per- 
mit them,  while  the  chargers  are  covered 
with  large  silk  housings  of  different  colors, 
reaching  to  the  ground,  and  resembling 
those  of  ancient  knights,  as  represented  in 
Froissart. 

Some  of  the  Arabs  then  commence  mak- 
ing their  horses  dance  to  the  sound  of  drums 
and  trumpets,  whilst  men  on  foot  occasion- 
ally rush  forward  and  discharge  their  mus- 
ketry close  to  the  horses’  ears.  Others  dash 
forward  at  full  speed  along  the  line  of  seated 
sjDectators,  as  close  to  their  feet  as  they 
possibly  can,  without  actually  trampling  on 
them : and  every  now  and  then  suddenly 
throw  their  horses  on  their  haunches,  spin 
them  round  on  their  hind  legs,  and  resume 
in  the  opposite  direction  their  wild  career. 

It  is  a nervous  sight  to  behold ; for  you 
momentarily  expect  to  see  some  person  or 
child  crushed  beneath  the  horses’  hoofs; 
but  no  accident  ever  happens,  and  men, 


AN  AKAB  TOURNAMENT. 


89 


women,  and  children,  maintain  their  seats 
with  the  greatest  calmness  and  feeling  of 
■ security,  saluting  any  well-executed  point 
'of  horsemanship  with  loud  and  exulting 
shouts  of  approbation,  whilst  the  women 
accompany  them  with  the  usual  but  inde- 
scribable cries  of  the  quick-repeated  lu-lu- 
lu-lu ; in  return  for  which  they  are  covered 
with  clouds  of  sand  and  dust,  which  the 
impetuous  coursers  throw  up  behind  them. 

Three  or  four  others,  dashing  their  sharp 
stirrups  into  the  flanks  of  their  impatient 
steeds,  rush  madly  along  the  length  of  the 
arena,  shouting  forth  their  tekhir,  or  war- 
cries,  and  whirling  round  their  heads  the  long 
and  silver  adorned  Arab  guns,  which  they 
discharge  at  the  spectators  when  they  have 
reached  the  farthest  extremity  of  the  lists. 

Others  engage  with  swords  soldiers  on 
foot,  galloping  round  their  adversaries  in 
incredibly  small  circles,  twisting  their  horses 
suddenly  round,  and  then  circling  to  the 
other  hand ; and  I know  not  which  most  to 
admire,  the  activity  and  suppleness  of  the 
rider,  or  of  his  horse.  Others,  whilst  at 


90 


AN  ARAB  TOURNAMENT. 


j . 
1| 


full  speed,  will  lean  over,  and  without  in  the 
least  redueing  their  pace,  pick  up  from  the 
' ground  a piastre  or  any  other  equally  small 
object,  thrown  for  the  purpose. 

These  sports  form  on  the  whole  one  of 
gayest  and  most  animated  scenes  I ever 
beheld,  increased  as  it  is  by  the  waving  of 
many  silken  sanjaks  of  the  brightest  colors, 
by  the  music,  and  the  report  of  fire-arms, 
the  war-cries  of  the  performers,  and  the 
shouts  of  the  spectators. 


liK)  9lSbeii)fnlre  ii) 

The  following  account  of  a singular  dis- 
play of  ferocity,  by  a herd  of  swine  in  Italy, 
is  given  by  an  English  tourist : I will  tell 
you  of  a narrow  escape  I had  some  years 
ago,  in  Tuscany.  K — and  myself  having 
heard  of  a flight  of  cocks,  had  gone  down  • 
into  the  Maremma  to  shoot.  You  have 
heard  of  the  Maremma.  It  possesses  an 
almost  interminable  extent  of  morasses, 
“overgrown  with  long,  rank  grasses,”  a 
wilderness  of  putridity  and  desolation.  It 
was  the  month  of  November ; before  which 
time  it  is  dangerous  to  set  foot  there,  for 
until  the  first  frost  even  many  of  the  fever- 
stricken  serfs  forsake  it.  In  the  eagerness 
of  sport  we  had  been  led  farther  than  we 
calculated  from  our  albergo,  a solitary, 
wretched  hovel,  bordering  on  the  marsh, 
the  abode  of  the  most  ghostly,  yellow,  ema- 

(91) 


92 


AN  ADVENTURE  IN  ITALY. 


dated  objects  in  human  form  I ever  beheld, 
except  some  of  the  cayenned,  curry-dried, 
liver-worn  Anglo-East  Indians  we  left  at 
Cheltenham.  The  sun  was  fast  setting,  and 
we  had  still  two  miles  to  make,  and  were 
coasting  along  the  edge  of  a knoll,  thickly 
set  with  huge  and  speckled  aloes,  inter- 
mingled here  and  there  with  stunted  ilexes, 
and  with  the  strawberry  tree,  then  bright 
with  its  globes  of  deep  red  gold,  when  me- 
thought  I heard  a rustling  among  the 
branches,  and  a sound  like  that  of  the 
grinding  of  teeth.  I noticed  it  to  my  com- 
panion. He  suddenly  turned  ashy-pale, 
and  whispered  hysterically,  “ We  are  near 
a herd  of  swine.” 

Vast  numbers,  I should  have  told  you, 
are  turned  out  in  the  fall  of  the  leaf,  to  fatten 
here,  and  become  so  savage  and  wild,  that 
none  but  their  keepers  dare  approach  them, 
and  cased  as  they  are  in  an  almost  impene- 
trable mail  of  leather,  even  they  sometimes 
fall  victims  to  the  ferocity  of  these  brutes. 

“It  is  well  for  us,”  continued  my  friend, 
“ that  there  is  a hut  within  a few  hundred 


AN  ADVENTURE  IN  ITALY, 


93 


yards.  Let  us  lose  no  time  in  making  for 
it,”  As  he  spake,  the  sounds  became 
louder,  and  I saw  some  hundred  hogs 
emerging  from  the  brushwood,  grunting 
fiercely,  and  gnashing  their  teeth  in  unison. 
They  were  huge,  gaunt,  long-legged,  long- 
headed, and  long-backed  creatures,  giants 
of  their  species — spectral  monsters,  more 
like  starved  bloodhounds  than  swine. 

They  now  mustered  their  forces  in  battle 
array,  outside  the  thicket,  and  commenced 
the  attack  in,  a systematic  and  regularly 
concerted  manner ; the  veterans  of  the  herd 
directing  the  movements  of  the  hostile  band, 
and  one,  by  a deeper  grunt,  not  ill-resem- 
bling the  word  of  command  of  a certain 
general,  de  grege  porcus,  of  our  acquaintance, 
giving  dreadful  notes  of  preparation,  as  if 
to  spirit  on  the  line  to  a charge. 

We  made  our  way  with  difficulty  through 
the  rotten  and  yielding  morass,  leaping  from 
tuft  to  tuft,  and  risking,  by  a false  slip,  to 
plunge  into  a bottomless  abyss,  while  our 
bloodthirsty  pursers,  with  their  long  legs 
and  lanky  sides,  and  tucked-up  bellies,  ad- 


94 


AN  ADVENTURE  IN  ITALY. 


vanced — a fearful  phalanx,  in  semilunar 
curve,  momently  gained  ground  I My  friend, 
who  was  more  accustomed  to  the  bogs  than 
myself,  soon  outstripped  me,  not  daring  to 
look  behind.  Once,  and  only  once,  did  I, 
and  beheld  them  coming  on  like  a pack  of 
hounds  in  full  cry,  and  with  the  scent  breast 
high,  and  to  my  horror,  perceived  the  two 
horns  or  wings  of  the  troop,  making  an 
echellon  movement  in  an  ever-narrowing 
circle,  like  a regiment  of  cavalry  bringing 
their  right  and  left  shoulders  forward,  to 
outflank,  and  then  enclose  us.  I dared  not 
risk  a second  glance  at  my  foes,  but  the 
hoarse  voices  of  the  ringleaders  ran  through 
the  ranks,  and  I heard  and  saw  the  plash 
of  their  many  feet,  as  they  turned  up  the 
mud  but  a few  yards  in  my  rear. 

How  I reached  the  hut  I know  not,  but 
reach  it  I did,  where  I found  my  friend  lean- 
ing against  the  wall,  breathless  with  terror. 
The  shed  was  rudely  constructed  of  peat, 
and  appeared  to  have  been  long  deserted, 
consisting  only  of  bare  walls  and  a few 
rafters;  but,  providentially,  there  was  a 


AN  ADVENTURE  IN  ITALY. 


95 


door  hanging  by  one  hinge ; this  I contrived 
to  shut  just  as  the  centre  of  the  herd  ar- 
rived at  the  threshold.  They  made  a halt, 
retired  a few  paces,  and  collected  together, 
as  if  to  hold  a council  of  war.  While  they 
were  undecided  how  to  act,  we  discharged 
our  four  barrels  loaded  with  small  shot, 
from  the  window,  at  the  nearest,  which 
slowly  limping,  with  a sullen  grunt  of  dis- 
appointment, the  whole  of  their  comrades 
at  their  heels,  retreated  into  the  covert. 

“Thank  God!”  said  R — , when  he  saw 
the  last  disappear  among  the  aloes.  “ It 
is  but  a year  since  a traveller  crossing  the 
Maremma,  paid  for  the  journey  with  his 
life.  There  was  not  a tree  to  shelter  him ; 
and  though  he  was  a determined  man,  and 
well-armed,  and  no  doubt  made  a gallant 
resistance,  they  hemmed  him  in  and  de- 
voured him.  I could  show  you  the  spot 
where  the  swineherds  drove  them  from  his 
mangled  remains;  it  was  pointed  out  to 
me  the  last  time  I came  here. 


It  ligW  bnii)  ^ 

I NEVER  was  down-hearted  but  once  in 
in  my  life,  and  that  was  on  seeing  the  death 
of  a faithful  friend,  who  lost  his  life  in  try- 
ing to  save  mine.  The  fact  is,  I was  one  day 
making  tracks  homeward,  after  a long 
tramp  through  one  of  our  forests — my  rifle 
carelessly  resting  on  my  shoulder — when 
my  favorite  dog,  Sj^ort,  who  was  trotting 
quietly  a-head  of  me,  suddenly  stopped 
stock  still,  gazed  into  a big  oak  tree,  bristled 
up  his  back,  and  fetched  a loud  growl.  I 
looked  up,  and  saw  upon  a (piivcring  limb, 
(9G) 


A PANTHER  FIGHT. 


97 


a half-grown  panther,  crouching  down 
close,  and  in  the  very  act  of  springing  upon 
him.  With  a motion  quicker  than  chain- 
lightning I levelled  my  rifle,  blazed  away, 
and  shot  him  clean  through  and  through 
the  heart.  The  varmint,  with  teeth  all  set 
and  claws  spread,  pitched  sprawling  head 
foremost  to  the  ground,  as  dead  as  Julius 
Cagsar ! That  was  all  fair  enoueh ; but  mark, 
afore  I had  hardly  dropped  my  rifle,  I found 
myself  thrown  down  on  my  profile  by  the 
old  she-panther,  who  that  minute  sprung 
from  an  opposite  tree  and  lit  upon  my 
shoulders,  heavier  than  all  creation ! I feel 
the  print  of  her  teeth  and  nails  now ! My 
dog  grew  mighty  loving — he  jumped  a-top 
and  seized  her  by  the  neck ; so  we  all  rolled 
and  clawed,  and  a pretty  considerable  tight 
scratch  we  had  of  it. 

I began  to  think  my  right  arm  was  about 
chawed  up ; when  the  varmint  finding  the 
dog's  teeth  rayther  hurt  her  feelings,  let  me 
go  altogether,  and  clenched  him.  Seeing 
at  once  that  the  dog  was  undermost,  and 
that  there  was  no  two  ways  about  a chance 


98  A Kentuckian’s  hgiit  with  a panther. 

of  a choke-off,  or  let  up  about  her,  I just 
out  jack-kuife,  and  with  one  slash,  prehaps 
I didn’t  cut  the  panther’s  throat  deep 
enough  for  her  to  breathe  the  rest  of  her 
life  without  nostrils.  I did  feel  mighty  sa- 
vagerous,  and,  big  as  she  was,  I laid  hold 
of  her  hide  by  the  back  with  an  alligator- 
grip,  and  slung  her  against  the  nearest  tree, 
hard  enough  to  make  every  bone  in  her 
body  flash  fire.  “Thar,”  says  I,  “j'ou  tar- 
nal  varmint,  root  and  branch,  you  are  what 
I call  used  up!” 

But  I turned  round  to  look  for  my  dog, 
and — and — and  tears  gushed  into  my  eyes, 
as  I see  the  poor  affectionate  eretur — all  of 
a gore  of  blood — half  raised  on  his  fore  legs, 
and  trying  to  drag  his  mangled  body  to- 
wards me ; down  he  dropped — I run  up  to 
him,  whistled  loud,  and  gave  him  a friendly 
shake  of  the  paw's,  (for  I loved  my  dog.)  But 
he  was  too  far  gone;  he  had  just  strength 
enough  to  wag  his  tail  feebly — fixed  his 
closing  eyes  upon  me  wishfully — then  gave 
a gasp  or  two,  and — all  was  over! 


wr- 


*'  ' :• 


1 


-<■ 


7. 


NATURAL  TUNNEL, 


Ii]e 

The  Natural  Tunnel  is  in  the  south-west- 
ern part  of  Virginia,  three  hundred  and 
fifty-six  miles  from  Eichmond,  near  the 
line  of  Tennessee.  It  is  about  four  hundred 
and  fifty  feet  in  length.  A stream  of  water 
passes  through  it,  and  a stage  road  over  it. 
In  some  places  the  roof  is  estimated  to  be 
about  nine  hundred  feet  above  the  stream ; 
and  it  bears  a striking  resemblance  to  a 
dome.  The  tunnel  has  entrances  very  dif- 
ferent in  appearance.  At  the  lower  en- 
trance, the  deep  gorge  through  which  the 
creek  passes,  is  bounded  on  three  sides  by 
a perpendicular  wall  of  rock,  over  three 
hundred  feet  in  height;  the  fourth  side 
being  open  to  allow  the  passage  of  the 
creek  after  it  leaves  the  tunnel.  The  rocks 
at  this  place  have  several  small  caves  or 

9*  (101) 


102  THE  NATURAL  TUNNEL. 

fissures,  in  which  the  nitrous  earth,  from 
which  salt  petre  is  extracted,  have  been 
found.  One  or  more  of  these  are  in  the 
sides  of  the  tunnel  itself.  During  the  war 
of  1812,  when  saltpetre  was  very  scarce,  a 
small  fissure  in  the  wall  of  rock,  attracted 
attention,  and  it  was  determined  to  ex- 
plore it.  An  adventurous  individual,  by 
the  name  of  George  Dotson,  was  accordingly 
lowered  from  the  top  by  a rope  running 
over  a log,  and  held  by  several  men.  The 
rope  not  being  sufficiently  long,  the  last 
length,  which  was  tied  around  his  waist, 
was  made  of  the  bark  of  leatherwood.  When 
down  to  the  level  of  the  fissure,  he  was  still 
twelve  or  fifteen  feet  from  it  horizontally, 
being  thrown  so  by  the  overhanging  of  the 
wall  of  rock.  With  a long  pole,  to  which 
was  attached  a hook,  he  attempted  to  pull 
himself  to  the  fissure.  He  had  nearly  suc- 
ceeded, when  the  hook  slipped,  and  he 
swung  out  into  the  middle  of  the  ravine, 
pendulum-like,  on  a rope  of  perhaps  one 
hundred  and  fifty  feet  in  length.  Keturn- 
ing  on  his  fearful  vibration,  he  but  managed 


THE  NATURAL  TUNNEL. 


103 


to  ward  himself  off  with  his  pole  from  being 
dashed  against  the  rock,  when  away  he 
swung  again. 

One  of  his  companions,  stationed  on  the 
opposite  side  of  the  ravine  to  give  directions, 
instinctively  drew  back,  for  it  appeared  to 
him  that  he  was  slung  at  him  across  the 
abyss.  At  length  the  vibrations  ceased. 
At  that  juncture,  Dotson  heard  something 
crack  above  his  head : he  looked,  and  saw 
that  a strand  of  his  bark  rope  had  parted. 
Grasping,  with  both  hands,  the  rope  imme- 
diately above  the  spot,  he  cried  out  hastily, 
“Pull,  for sake  pull!” 

On  reaching  the  top  he  fainted.  On 
another  occasion,  the  bark  rope  being  re- 
placed by  a hempen  one,  he  went  down 
again  and  explored  the  cave.  His  only  re- 
ward was  the  satisfaction  of  his  curiosity. 
The  hole  extended  only  a few  feet. 

The  natural  Tunnel  is  much  visited  by 
travellers.  The  grandeur  of  the  surround- 
ing scenery  attracts  many  who  have  not 
the  curiosity  to  explore  the  tunnel. 


■I 


The  manner  in  which  dogs  have  exerted  “ 
themselves  to  save  the  lives  of  their  masters 
is  very  remarkable.  The  following  occurs 
in  a work  called  “Eandom  Sketches  of  a 
Kentuckian.” 

(104) 

■ 


THRILLING  CONTEST  WITH  A STAG.  105 

This  Kentuckian  sportsman  had  a favo- 
rite stag-hound,  strong  and  of  first-rate 
qualities,  named  Bravo,  which  he  on  one 
occasion  in  going  on  a hunting  expedition 
left  at  home ; taking  in  his  stead  on  trial  a 
fine-looking  hound  which  had  been  pre- 
sented to  him  a few  days  before.  Having 
gone  a certain  length  into ' the  woodlands 
in  quest  of  game,  he  fired  at  a powerful 
stag,  which  he  brought  down  after  a con- 
siderable run,  and  believed  to  be  dead.  The 
animal,  however,  was  only  stunned  by  the 
shot.  On  stooping  down  to  bleed  him,  he 
was  no  sooner  touched  with  the  keen  edge 
of  the  knife,  than  he  rose  with  a sudden 
bound,  “ threw  me  from  his  body,”  says  the 
hunter,  “and  hurled  my  knife  from  my 
hand.  I at  once  saw  my  danger,  but  it  was 
too  late.  With  one  bound  he  was  upon  me, 
wounding  and  almost  disabling  me  with  his 
sharp  horns  and  feet. 

“ I seized  him  by  his  wide-spread  antlers, 
and  sought  to  regain  possession  of  my  knife, 
but  in  vain;  each  new  struggle  drew  us 
farther  from  it.  My  horse,  frightened  at 


106  HAIR-BREADTH  ESCAPE  OF  A KENTUCKIAN. 

the  unusual  scene,  had  madly  fled  to  an  ad- 
joining ridge,  were  he  stood  looking  down 
upon  the  combat,  trembling  and  quivering 
in  every  limb.  My  dog  had  not  come  up, 
and  his  bay  I could  not  now  hear.  The 
struggles  of  the  furious  animal  had  become 
dreadful,  and  every  moment  I could  feel  his 
sharp  hoofs  cutting  deep  into  my  flesh ; my 
grasp  upon  his  antlers  were  growing  less 
Arm,  and  yet  I relinquished  not  my  hold. 
The  struggle  had  brought  us  near  a deep 
ditch,  washed  by  autumn  rains,  and  into 
this  I endeavored  to  force  my  adversary ; 
but  my  strength  was  unequal  to  the  effort : 
when  we  approached  to  the  very  brink,  he 
leaped  over  the  drain.  I relinquished  my 
hold  and  rolled  in,  hoping  thus  to  escape 
him ; but  he  returned  to  the  attack,  and 
throwing  himself  upon  me,  inflicted  nume- 
rous severe  cuts  upon  my  face  and  breast 
before  I could  again  seize  him.  Locking 
my  arms  round  his  antlers,  I drew  his  head 
close  to  my  breast,  and  was  thus,  by  great 
efibrt,  enabled  to  prevent  his  doing  me  any 
serious  injury.  But  I felt  that  this  could  », 


THRILLING  CONTEST  WITH  A STAG.  107 

not  last  long ; every  muscle  and  fibre  of  my 
frame  was  called  into  action,  and  human 
nature  could  not  long  bear  up  under  such 
exertion.  Faltering  a silent  prayer  to  Hea- 
ven, I prepared  to  meet  my  fate. 

At  this  moment  of  despair  I heard  the 
faint  hayings  of  the  hound ; the  stag  too 
heard  the  sound,  and,  springing  from  the 
ditch,  drew  me  with  him.  His  efforts  were 
now  redoubled,  and  I could  scarcely  cling 
to  him.  Tet  that  blessed  sound  came  nearer. 
0 how  wildly  beat  my  heart  as  I saw  the 
hound  emerge  from  the  ravine,  and  spring 
forward  with  a short,  quick  bark,  as  his 
eye  rested  on  his  game.  I released  my 
hold  of  the  stag,  who  turned  upon  the  new 
enemy.  Exhausted,  and  unable  to  rise,  I 
still  cheered  the  dog  that,  dastard  like,  fled 
before  the  infuriated  animal,  which,  seem- 
ingly despising  such  an  enemy,  again  threw 
himself  upon  me.  Again  did  I succeed  in 
throwing  my  arms  around  his  antlers,  but 
but  not  until  he  had  inflicted  several  dan- 
gerous wounds  upon  my  head  and  face, 
cutting  to  the  very  bone. 


108  HAIR-BREADTH  ESCAPE  OF  A KENTUCKIAN. 

“ Blinded  by  the  flowing  blood,  exhausted 
and  despairing,  I cursed  the  coward  dog, 
which  stood  near,  baying  furiously,  yet  re- 
fusing to  seize  his  game.  0 how  I prayed 
for  Bravo ! The  thoughts  of  death  were- 
bitter.  To  die  thus  in  the  wild  forest,  alone, 
with  none  to  help ! Thoughts  of  home  and 
friends  coursed  like  lightning  through  my 
brain.  At  that  moment,  when  hope  herself 
had  fled,  deep  and  clear  over  the  neighbor- 
ing hill  came  the  baying  of  my  gallant 
Bravo!  I should  have  known  his  voice 
among  a thousand.  I pealed  forth,  in  one 
faint  shout,  “ On,  Bravo,  on !”  The  next 
moment,  with  tiger-like  bounds,  the  noble 
dog  come  leaping  down  the  declivity,  scat- 
tering the  dried  autumnal  leaves  like  a 
whirlwind  in  his  path.  No  pause  he  knew ; 
but,  fixing  his  fangs  in  the  stag’s  throat, 
he  at  once  commenced  the  struggle. 

“ I fell  back,  completely  exhausted. 
Blinded  with  blood,  I only  knew  that  a ter- 
rific struggle  was  going  on.  In  a few  mo- 
ments all  was  still,  and  I felt  the  warm 
breath  of  my  faithful  dog  as  he  licked  my 


THRILLING  CONTEST  WITH  A STAG.  109 

wounds.  Clearing  my  eyes  from  gore,  I 
saw  my  late  adversary  dead  at  my  feet,  and 
Bravo,  ‘my  own  Bravo,’  as  the  heroine  of  a 
modern  novel  would  say,  standing  over  me. 
He  yet  bore  around  his  neck  a fragment  of 
the  rope  with  which  I had  tied  him.  He 
had  gnawed  it  in  two,  and  following  his 
master  through  all  his  windings,  arrived 
in  time  to  rescue  him  from  a most  horrible 
death.” 


10 


Ji|e  fox 

Among  the  gentry  of  England,  fox  hunt- 
ing has  long  been  a favorite  amusement. 
Most  of  those  who  have  country  seats,  keep 
packs  of  dogs,  and  horses  of  noble  breed  ; 
and  occasionally  in  the  proper  season,  get 
up  large  hunting  parties.  The  sport  re- 
quires fine  horsemanship,  and  a complete 
knowledge  of  the  habits  and  inclination  of 
the  fox.  Nothing  can  be  more  invigorating 
QIO) 


THE  SQUIRE  AND  OLD  BARNES’S  FAMILY 


THE  FOX  HUNTERS. 


113 


than  the  fleet  chase,  through  the  woods 
and  over  the  fields,  with  the  hounds  in  full 
cry,  and  the  scampering  game  often  in 
sight.  The  blood  bounds  through  the  veins, 
and  every  nerve  is  strained  in  the  exercise. 

Mr.  Kobert  Higginson,  or  rather  Squire 
Higginson,.  as  he  was  generally  called,  was 
one  of  the  wealthiest  landlords  of  the  county 
of  Kent,  in  England.  He  was  in  the  prime 
of  life,  with  plenty  of  leisure,  and  plenty  of 
every  thing  at  command.  He  always  had 
his  mansion  filled  with  company,  feasting, 
dancing,  and  arranging  and  prosecuting  all 
sorts  of  schemes  for  recreation.  Fox  hunt- 
ing was  the  Squire’s  favorite  sport.  He 
preferred  it  beyond  all  in-door  amusements, 
and  was  ever  delighted  when  the  season 
for  fox  hunting  came  round.  No  one  had 
a better  breed  of  dogs,  or  fleeter  horses, 
and  no  one  took  more  pride  in  displaying 
them. 

One  morning,  in  October,  a numerous 
party  was  assembled  at  the  Squire’s  man- 
sion, preparatory  to  starting  upon  a hunt. 
A finer  day  for  the  sport  could  not  have 

H 1 A;* 


114 


THE  FOX  HUNTERS. 


been  desired.  It  was  clear,  cool,  and  bracing. 
The  gentlemen  were  soon  upon  horseback, 
and  the  game-keeper  was  sent  forward  to 
start  the  fox.  Presently,  the  dogs  caught 
sight  of  the  animal  as  it  flew  across  a field 
not  far  from  the  mansion,  and  set  off,  with 
their  usual  chorus.  Away  went  the  hunters 
upon  their  noble  steeds,  skimming  across 
the  meadows,  leaping  fences  and  ditches, 
, and  running  a hundred  risks,  without  the 
slightest  dread.  Miles  were  traversed  within 
a very  short  time.  At  length  the  fox  was 
earthed,  and  the  most  violent  part  of  the 
pursuit  was  over.  But  an  accident  some- 
what marred  the  delight  of  the  hunters. 
By  a sudden  plunge  of  his  horse,  the  Squire 
was  thrown  off  against  a tree,  and  not  only 
stunned  but  severely  bruised.  The  fox  was 
forgotten  in  the  anxiety  for  the  Squire,  but 
some  of  the  attendants  managed  to  secure 
it,  after  ascertaining  that  their  master  was 
not  dangerously  injured.  Happily,  old  John 
Barnes’s  house  was  near  the  place  where 
the  accident  occurred.  Barnes  was  one  of 
the  oldest  of  the  Squire’s  tenants,  and  bore 


THE  FOX  HUNTERS. 


115 


the  reputation  of  keeping  an  open  door,  a 
good  table,  and  the  best  ale.  Thither  the 
Squire  was  led,  while  the  rest  of  the  party 
returned  to  the  mansion,  at  his  request. 

A cheerful  scene  was  soon  presented  in 
the  cottage  of  old  John  Barnes.  A blazing 
fire  was  upon  the  hearth,  near  which  sat 
the  hale  old  man  and  his  wife,  while  their 
children  and  grandchildren  were  crowding 
into  the  small  room,  to  get  a sight  of  the 
Squire,  and  to  hear  what  he  had  to  say.  Hig- 
ginson  felt  rather  sore  about  the  head  and 
shoulder,  but  as  he  looked  upon  the  scene 
before  him,  a smile  lit  up  his  face,  indicat- 
ing that  the  view  of  such  comfort  and  hap- 
piness touched  his  warm  heart.  He  refused 
to  eat  any  thing,  in  spite  of  the  pressing 
invitation  of  Barnes  and  his  wife,  and  the 
children  in  chorus.  But  the  ale  he  took 
with  thanks.  He  would  have  all  the  grown 
ones  drink  a toast  with  him.  When  the 
glasses  were  filled,  he  proposed,  “Health 
and  comfort — a cheerful  blaze  and  a well- 
filled  board — to  honest  industry.”  This 
was  drunk  with  enthusiasm  by  the  grate- 


116 


THE  FOX  HUNTERS. 


ful  cotters.  The  Squire  then  chatted  awhile, 
about  the  condition  of  things  in  the  cottage, 
but  suddenly  seemed  to  fall  into  serious  re- 
flection. No  one  ventured  to  ask  for  the 
cause,  though  nearly  all  marked  the  change 
in  his  manner. 

Some  friends  of  the  Squire  now  arrived, 
and  he  accompanied  them  to  his  mansion. 
From  that  time  forward,  there  was  a great 
change  at  Higginson’s  house.  Parties  were 
less  frequent;  and  the  Squire  remained 
more  at  home.  Very  soon  a wife  was  added 
to  the  attractions  of  that  home.  The  tenants 
were  treated  with  care  and  generosity,  and 
the  Squire  seemed  to  find  his  chief  pleasure 
in  rendering  every  fireside  cheerful. 

What  had  worked  this  change?  The 
visit  to  the  cottage  of  old  John  Barnes.  The 
sight  of  so  much  quiet  comfort  had  induced 
him  to  seek  to  find  an  imitation  of  it  in  his 
own  mansion.  He  ever  regarded  the  acci- 
dent upon  the  fox-hunt  as  a real  blessing — 
as  a key  that  oi^ened  to  him  purer  joys  than 
any  he  had  before  known.  Kiot  and  revelry 
were  excluded  from  Higginson’s  house, 


THE  FOX  HUNTERS. 


117 


during  his  life,  and  thus  a fine  estate  was 
saved  from  ruin ; and  the  time  which  had 
been  thus  spent  was  given  to  the  improve- 
ment of  his  fellow  creatures. 


Joshua  Fleehart  was  one  of  the  earliest 
white  hunters  upon  the  north  side  of  the 
Ohio  river.  A more  fearless  and  skilful  j 

I 

woodsman  never  roamed  the  wilderness.  He 
wished  for  no  other  companion  than  his 
dog;  and  with  him  he  would  traverse  dis- 
tricts swarming  with  enemies,  as  recklessly 
as  if  he  was  in  the  midst  of  friends.  Flee- 
hart  was  a man  of  large  frame,  with  sinews 
(118) 


THE  hunter’s  friendship.  121 

like  steel.  He  was  almost  as  swift  of  foot 
as  tbe  deer.  His  rifle  was  too  heavy  for 
the  use  of  common  hunters.  He  was  well- 
known  to  the  Indians  of  various  tribes,  and 
they  dreaded  and  respected  his  courage  and 
woodcraft. 

Fleehart  never  had  the  highest  opinion 
of  the  red  men.  He  considered  himself 
equal  to  a whole  tribe  of  them.  But  there 
was  one  young  Shawanee,  named  Deerfoot, 
who  by  a timely  service,  when  the  life  of 
Fleehart  was  in  danger,  had  won  the  hunter’s 
heart.  Whenever  he  would  bring  himself 
to  seek  a companion  for  long  hunting  ex- 
cursions, he  invited  Deerfoot,  who  never  re- 
fused to  take  advantage  of  the  opportunity 
thus  offered  to  learn  the  mysteries  of  hunt- 
ing, and  renew  the  ties  of  friendship.  Flee- 
hart never  liked  the  Shawanee  tribe ; the 
Delawares  were  his  constant  friends.  He 
often  visited  their  village,  and  partook  of 
their  hospitality.  His  attachment  to  Deer- 
foot thus  became  the  more  remarkable. 

In  the  height  of  this  singular  friendship, 
war  was  kindled  between  the  Delawares 

11 


122  THE  hunter’s  friendship. 

and  the  Shawanees.  Deerfoot,  of  course, 
had  to  fight  upon  the  side  of  his  tribe.  After 
a short  struggle  with  his  feelings  of  hatred 
of  the  Shawanees,  and  love  for  Deerfoot, 
Fleehart  determined  to  remain  neutral,  and 
so  took  occasion  to  inform  both  tribes,  in 
order  to  secure  himself  from  surprise.  The 
war  was  carried  on  with  various  success. 
Many  brave  warriors  won  fame  by  display- 
ing their  prowess,  and  many  sank  upon  the 
earth  to  rise  no  more.  Deerfoot  astonished 
both  tribes  by  his  activity  and  success.  He 
became  a terrible  foe  to  the  Delawares,  and 
they  were  very  anxious  to  take. or  destroy 
him.  At  length  their  vindictive  feelings 
were  gratified.  In  a daring  attack  upon  a 
Delaware  village,  Deerfoot  was  repulsed ; 
and  he  fell  into  the  hands  of  his  foes.  His 
doom  was  certain.  He  was  to  be  tortured 
to  death  at  the  stake.  But  he  determined 
to  die  like  an  Indian  hero,  defying  the  tor- 
ments of  the  hated  Delawares.  He  was 
brought  to  the  stake,  and  old  and  young, 
male  and  female,  crowded  round,  and  tried 
to  provoke  a complaint  from  him.  But  the 


THE  hunter’s  friendship. 


123 


lips  of  Deerfoot  was  curled  in  scorn,  and  his 
eye  glanced  nothing  but  resolute  defiance. 
He  was  painted  and  tied  to  the  post,  there 
to  remain  till  the  next  day,  when  the  work 
of  death  was  to  begin. 

But  a friend  was  nigh — a priceless  friend 
in  time  of  need.  Fleehart  heard  of  the  cap- 
ture of  Deerfoot,  and  determined,  even  at 
the  risk  of  sacrificing  the  terms  on  which 
he  lived  with  the  Delawares,  to  save  his 
life.  Having  formed  this  resolution,  it  was 
necessary  for  the  hunter  to  devise  a plan 
and  put  it  into  instant  execution.  Persua- 
sion he  knew  would  fail  to  touch  the  hearts 
of  the  Delawares.  Their  captive  was  too 
important  for  them  to  listen  to  arguments 
for  his  release.  A bold  movement  was 
necessary. 

The  hunter  was  intimately  acquainted 
with  the  Indian  custom,  and  he  calculated 
that  he  could  reach  the  village  before  day- 
break, upon  the  morning  intended  for  the 
torture.  He  hurried  from  his  hunting 
ground;  and  by  a march  astonishingly 
rapid,  arrived  at  the  village  about  three 


'1 


124  THE  hunter’s  friendship. 

hours  before  day  might  be  expected  to  dawn. 
The  Delawares  were  wrapped  in  slumber. 

A few  of  the  stoutest,  who  had  been  com- 
missioned to  guard  the  captive,  lay  upon 
the  ground  not  far  from  the  fatal  stake. 
Feeling  secure  from  attack,  they  had  fallen 
into  a dose.  Deerfoot  appeared  to  be  sunk 
in  meditation  upon  his  approaching  death. 
He  had  lost  all  hope.  Occasionally,  he  would 
look  up  at  the  star-sowii  sky,  as  if  to  bid  it 
farewell,  or  to  seek  in  its  depths,  a confir- 
mation of  his  creed  of  a future  life  in  the 
“happy  hunting  grounds.”  Suddenly  a 
man  sprang  up  beside  him,  cut  the  thongs 
that  bound  him  — almost  as  quick  as 
thought,  bade  him  fly  for  his  life,  and  thrust 
a tomahawk  into  his  hands.  The  man  was 
Fleehart.  Deerfoot  recognised  him,  gave 
him  an  embrace,  took  the  offered  weapon, 
and  sprang  towards  the  woods,  followed  by 
the  bold  hunter.  The  sound  of  flying  feet 
aroused  the  guards.  They  jumped  up  just  in 
time  to  see  the  skirt  of  Fleehart’s  hunting 
shirt,  as  he  plunged  into  the  wood.  A yell 
rang  through  the  air,  and  the  village  started 


THE  hunteb’s  ebiendship.  125 

into  life.  Twenty  warriors  were  soon  in 
pursuit.  But  Fleehart  and  his  friend  were 
not  only  too  far  in  advance,  but  they  knew 
the  country,  and  how  to  mislead  an  enemy 
in  it  much  better  than  their  pursuers.  The 
friends  were  soon  beyond  the  reach  of 
danger. 

The  Delawares  returned  to  their  village, 
vowing  to  make  Fleehart  feel  how  danger- 
ous it  was  thus  to  tear  an  enemy  from  their 
power.  The  hunter  was  careful  to  keep  out 
of  their  way,  until  the  war  was  over,  when 
an  explanation  of  his  motives  for  saving 
Deerfoot  secured  him  the  attachment  of  the 
Indians,  whose  nature  it  was  to  admire  a 
firm  and  devoted  friendship. 


IP 


Courage  is  a quality  of  great  importance 
in  a horse,  and  some  possess  it  in  a high 
degree.  It  is  worthy,  too,  of  remark,  that 
there  is  often  something  more  than  mere 
natural  indifference  to  danger,  something 
of  an  intellectual  character  in  the  courage 
of  the  horse.  He  teams  to  overcome  his 
fears.  At  the  sight  of  a tiger,  a horse  has 
been  known  to  become  wholly  paralysed 
with  terror,  and  incapable  of  resistance,  or 
even  of  flight;  and  yet  this  instinctive 
dread  of  mortal  foes  can  be  eradicated  by 
education,  and  a reliance  on  the  protection 
of  man. 

A remarkable  proof  of  this  is,  that  the 
hunting  leopard  is  allowed  by  the  well- 
trained  horse  to  spring  on  his  back,  either 
behind  or  before  his  master,  when  he  goes 
(120) 


SIR  ROBERT  GILLESPIE  SPEARING  THE  TIGER. 


1: 


1' 


t.l 


EXCITING  FEAT  OF  HORSEMANSHIP.  129 

a-field  in  pursuit  of  game.  One  of  the  most 
signal  instances  of  courage . on  the  part  of 
horse  and  rider,  and  of  perfect  concert  be- 
tween both,  is  that  recorded  of  the  late  Sir 
Eobert  Gillespie  and  his  Arab.  Sir  Kobert 
being  present  on  the  race-course  of  Calcutta 
during  one  of  the  great  Hindoo  festivals, 
when  many  thousands  are  assembled  to 
witness  all  sorts  of  shows,  was  suddenly 
alarmed  by  the  shrieks  and  commotion  of 
the  crowd. 

On  being  informed  that  a tiger  had  es- 
caped from  his  keepers,  he  immediately 
called  for  his  horse,  and,  with  no  other 
weapon  than  a boar-spear  snatched  from 
one  of  the  by-standers,  he  rode  to  attack 
this  formidable  enemy.  The  tiger  was  pro- 
bably amazed  a.t  finding  himself  in  the 
middle  of  such  a number  of  shrieking  beings  , 
flying  from  him  in  all  directions ; but  the 
moment  he  perceived  Sir  Eobert,  he  crouched 
in  the  attitude  of  preparing  to  spring  upon 
him ; and  that  instant  the  gallant  soldier 
passed  his  horse  in  a leap  over  the  tiger’s 
back,  and  struck  the  spear  through  his 

I 


130  SIR  ROBERT  GILLESPIE  AND  THE  TIGER. 

spine.  It  was  a feat  requiring  the  utmost 
conceivable  unity  of  purpose  and  movement 
on  the  part  of  horse  and  rider,  almost 
realising  for  the  moment  the  fable  of  the 
centaur.  Had  either  swerved  or  wavered 
for  a second,  both  had  been  lost.  But  the 
brave  steed  knew  his  rider.  The  animal 
was  a small  grey,  and  was  afterwards  sent 
home  as  a present  to  the  Prince  Eegent. 

Sir  Eobert  fell  subsequently  at  the  storm- 
ing of  Kalunga.  Another  horse  of  his,  a 
favorite  black  charger,  bred  at  the  Cape  of 
Good  Hope,  and  carried  by  him  to  India, 
was  at  the  sale  of  his  effects,  competed  for 
by  several  officers  of  his  division,  and  finally 
knocked  down  to  the  privates  of  the  8th 
dragoons,  who  contributed  their  prize  mo- 
ney, to  the  amount  of  £500  sterling,  to  re- 
tain this  commemoration  of  their  beloved 
commander. 

The  charger  was  always  led  at  the  head 
of  the  regiment  on  a march,  and  at  the 
station  of  Cawnpore  was  usually  indulged 
with  taking  his  ancient  post  at  the  color 
stand,  where  the  salute  of  passing  squad- 


SINGULAR  FORCE  OP  HABIT. 


131 


I 


rons  was  given  at  drill  and  on  reviews. 
When  the  regiment  was  ordered  home,  the 
funds  of  the  privates  running  low,  he  was 
bought  for  the  same  sum  by  a gentleman, 
who  provided  funds  and  a paddock  for  him, 
where  he  might  end  his  days  in  comfort ; 
but  when  the  corps  had  marched,  and  the 
sound  of  the  drum  had  departed,  he  refused 
to  eat,  and  on  the  first  opportunity,  being 
led  out  to  exercise,  he  broke  from  his  groom, 
and  galloping  to  his  ancient  station  on  the 
parade,  after  neighing  aloud,  dropped  down 
and  died. 


off  ^eb)  Ze^lf(ii)S. 

DiEFFENBACir,  a German  traveller,  who 
visited  New  Zealand,  some  years  ago,  thus 
speaks  of  the  whaling  off  those  islands : — 
The  whale-boats  are  admirably  adapted  for 
the  purpose  for  which  they  are  intended. 
They  are  of  various  construction,  and  are 
designated  as  English,  French,  or  American : 
each  has  some  peculiarity  to  recommend  it. 
They  are  capable  of  resisting  the  rough  sea 
of  Cook’s  Straits,  but  are  at  the  same  time 
(1^) 


WHAIING  OFF  NEW  ZEALAND. 


133 


swift  and  buoyant.  When  starting  on  a 
whaling  expedition,  the  boats  leave  Te-awa- 
iti  before  the  dawn  of  the  morning.  Each 
has  five  or  six  oars,  and  a crew  accordingly. 
The  boat-stearer  and  the  headsman  are  the 
principal  men  in  the  boat,  and  are  generally 
Europeans;  the  rest  are  natives.  They 
pull  to  the  entrance  of  Tory  Channel,  where 
a view  opens  over  Cook’s  Straits  and  Cloudy 
Bay  from  the  southern  headland,  where  they 
keep  a “look-out”  for  the  spouting  of  a 
whale.  The  boat  which  kills  the  calf  claims 
the  cow,  even  though  it  should  have  been 
killed  by  another  boat’s  crew. 

If  a whale  has  been  killed,  the  different 
boats  assist  each  other  in  towing  it  to  Te- 
awa-iti.  I once  saw  ten  or  twelve  boats 
towing  in  a whale.  Each  boat  had  a little 
flag,  and  the  whole  scene  was  gay  and  ani- 
mated. One  day  a calf  had  been  killed,  and 
the  cow,  having  been  fastened  upon,  but  not 
despatched,  was  towed  inside  the  channel. 
Gasping  in  the  agonies  of  death,  the  tor- 
tured animal,  when  close  to  our  ship,  threw 
up  jets  of  blood,  which  dyed  the  sea  all 

12 


134  WHALING  OFF  NEW  ZEALAND. 

around ; and,  beating  about  with  its  tail, 
it  broke  a boat  right  in  the  middle,  and 
threw  the  crew  into  the  water;  but  it  at 
length  died,  exhausted  from  the  many 
wounds  which  the  irons  and  harpoons  had 
inflicted.  The  calf  w'as  stated  by  the  whalers 
to  be  six  weeks  old,  and  was  twenty-four 
feet  long.  It  was  cut  up  in  a few  minutes, 
and  gave  several  barrels  of  oil.  The  pro- 
cess was  so  rapid,  that  when  I came  ashore 
I found  only  the  head.  I cut  out  the  brains, 
the  weight  of  which,  amounting  to  five 
pounds  and  one  ounce,  astonished  me  greatly. 
The  whalebone  was  very  soft,  and  therefore 
useless.  There  were  two  hundred  plates  of 
it  on  each  side  of  the  roof  of  the  upper  jaw. 
I got  the  whole  roof  cut  oft',  and,  intending 
to  dry  and  preserve,  I placed  it  on  the  roof 
of  a native  house ; but  on  the  following 
morning  I had  the  mortification  to  find  that 
the  rats  and  native  dogs  had  found  their 
way  to  it  in  the  night,  and  had  eaten  all 
the  soft  parts,  so  that  the  rest  fell  to  pieces. 
A portion  of  the  heart  of  this  calf  was 
roasted  and  sent  to  our  table.  In  taste  I 


WHALING  OFF  NEW  ZEALAND. 


135 


found  it  very  like  beef,  but  it  was  darker 
in  color.  The  cow  was  sixty  feet  long,  and 
measured  between  the  fins  on  the  belly 
eighty-two  inches.  Her  skin  was  a velvet- 
like black,  with  the  exception  of  a milk- 
white  spot  round  the  navel. 


The  following  account  of  a well-known 
and  much  dreaded  phenomenon  in  Switzer- 
land, is  given  by  Mrs.  Strutt.  The  Jaman 
is  sometimes  in  the  winter  and  spring  a 
dangerous  passage,  as  well  on  account  of 
the  depth  of  the  snow,  as  in  being  subject 
to  avalanches,  and  to  the  peculiar  tourmente, 
as  the  mountaineers  expressively  term  the 
snowy  winds  or  windy  snows,  called  the 
arein,  a word  which  signifies  in  the  patois 
of  the  country  a sandy  snow,  the  particles 
thereof  being  dry  and  brittle.  These  areim 
are  formed  by  one  layer  of  snow  falling 
upon  another,  already  frozen  and  hard,  and 
a strong  wind  forcing  its  way  between  the 
two,  slicing  off,  if  1 may  be  allowed  so 
homely  an  expression,  the  latest  fallen  and 
uppermost,  and  driving  it  down  the  inclined 
and  icy  plain  on  which  it  has  sought  its 
short  repose,  with  a fury  that  sweei:)s  be>i're 
(136) 


THE  AEEIN. 


137 


it  trees,  chalets,  herds,  human  beings,  all 
in  one  bewildering,  blinding  hurricane,  con- 
demning the  unfortunate  passenger  to 
death. 

In  1767,  one  of  these  areins  swept  away, 
between  the  Jamen  and  the  village  of  Al- 
lieres,  in  Fribourg,  on  which  we  were  now 
looking  down  in  all  the  serenity  of  a sum- 
mer’s day,  a number  of  large  firs  and  seve- 
ral houses,  which  it  carried  to  the  verge  of 
the  precipices  washed  by  the  Hongrin  in 
the  Gruyeres,  saAving  the  cabaret  of  Allieres 
literally  in  two,  and  carrying  away  the 
upper  story,  to  the  amazement  of  the  in- 
mates, who  were  thus  ejected  from  the  attics 
to  the  ground-floor  without  a moment’s  no- 
tice to  quit.  When  any  accident  fatal  to 
life  occurs  on  the  Jarnen,  it  is  forbidden  to 
remove  the  body  until  the  arrival  of  a ma- 
gistrate, excepting  the  mother  be  present, 
in  which  case  her  sanction  is  deemed  sufii-  . 
cient.  The  presence  of  the  father  is  not 
considered  equal  authority.  There  is  some- 
thing very  touching  in  this  deference  to 
maternal  feeling. 


12* 


^ 

Council  Grove  derives  its  name  from  tbo 
practice  among  the  traders,  from  the  com- 
mencement of  the  overland  commerce  be- 
tween the  United  States  and  Mexico,  of  as- 
sembling there  for  the  appointment  of 
officers,  and  the  establishment  of  rules  and 
regulations  to  govern  their  march  through 
the  country  to  the  south  of  it.  Mr.  Farn- 
hain,  a diligent  traveller  in  the  western 
country,  gives  the  following  description  of 
the  proceedings  at  this  place : — The  party 
lirst  elect  their  connnander-in-chief.  His 
duty  is  to  appoint  subordinate  leaders,  and 
to  divide  the  owners  and  men  into  watches, 
and  to  assign  them  their  several  hours  of 
duty  in  guarding  the  camp  during  the  re- 
mainder of  the  perilous  journey.  He  also 
divides  the  caravan  into  two  parts,  each  of 
which  forms  a column  when  on  the  march. 
(138) 


MEXICAN  SOLDIERS  PREPARING  TO  ATTACK  A CARAVAN. 


'I 


A PRAIRIE  TRADING  CARAVAN.  141 

In  these  lines  he  assigns  each  team  the 
place  in  which  it  must  always  be  found. 
Having  arranged  these  several  matters,  the 
council  breaks  up;  and  the  commander, 
with  the  guard  on  duty,  moves  off  in  ad- 
vance to  select  the  track  and  anticipate  ap- 
proaching danger.  After  this  guard  the 
head  teams  of  each  column  lead  off  about 
thirty  feet  apart,  and  the  others  follow  in 
regular  lines,  rising  and  dipping  gloriously ; 
two  hundred  men,  one  hundred  wagons, 
eight  hundred  mules ; shoutings  and  whip- 
pings, and  whistlings  and  cheerings,  are 
all  there ; and,  amidst  them  all,  the  hardy 
Yankee  moves  rapidly  onward  to  the  siege 
of  the  mines  of  Montezuma.  Several  ob- 
jects are  gained  by  this  arrangement  of 
the  wagons.  If  they  are  attacked  by  the 
Cumanche  cavalry  or  other  foes,  the  leading 
teams  file  to  the  right  and  left,  and  close 
the  front ; and  the  hindmost  by  a similar 
movement,  close  the  rear;  and  thus  they 
form  an  oblong  rampart  of  wagons  laden 
with  cotton  goods,  that  effectually  shield 
teams  and  men  from  the  small  arms  of  the 


142  A PRAIRIE  TRADING  CARAVAN. 

Indians.  The  same  arrangement  is  made 
when  they  halt  for  the  night.  Within  the 
area  thus  formed  are  put,  after  they  are 
fed,  many  of  the  more  valuable  horses  and 
oxen.  The  remainder  of  the  animals  are 
“staked,”  that  is,  tied  to  stakes,  at  a dis- 
tance of  twenty  or  thirty  yards  around  the 
line.  The  ropes  by  which  they  are  fastened 
are  from  thirty  to  forty  feet  in  length,  and 
the  stakes  to  which  they  are  attached  are 
carefully  driven,  at  such  distances  apart  as 
shall  prevent  their  being  entangled  one  with 
another.  Among  these  animals  the  guard 
on  duty  is  stationed,  standing  motionless 
near  them,  or  crouching  so  as  to  discover 
every  moving  spot  upon  the  horizon  of 
night. 

The  reasons  assigned  for  this  are,  that  a 
guard  in  motion  would  be  discovered  and 
fired  upon  by  the  cautious  savage  before 
his  presence  could  be  known ; and  further, 
that  it  is  impossible  to  discern  the  approach 
of  an  Indian  creeping  among  the  grass  in 
the  dark,  unless  the  eye  of  the  observer  be 
so  close  to  the  ground  as  to  bring  the  whole 


A PKAIRIE  TRADING  CARAVAN.  143 


I 

I 


1 

i I 


> I 

i 

e 

'I  • 

h 

n 

t 

le 


surface  lying  within  the  range  of  vision  be- 
tween it  and  the  line  of  light  around  the 
lower  edge  of  the  horizon.  If  the  camp  be 
attacked,  the  guard  fire  and  retreat  to  the 
wagons.  The  whole  body  take  positions 
for  defence ; at  one  time  sallying  out,  rescue 
their  animals  from  the  grasp  of  the  Indians, 
and  at  another,  concealed  behind  their 
wagons,  load  and  fire  upon  the  intruders 
with  all  possible  skill  and  rapidity.  Many 
were  the  bloody  battles  fought  on  the  trail, 
and  such  were  some  of  the  anxieties  and 
dangers  that  attended  and  still  attend  the 
“ Santa  Fe  trade.”  Many  are  the  graves, 
along  the  track,  of  those  who  have  fallen 
before  the  terrible  cavalry  of  the  Cumanches. 


'i  V -1 


Tucatan  is  the  most  interesting  portion 
of  Central  America.  The  ruins  of  cities, 
which  once  must  have  been  splendid  and 
populous,  are  found  in  many  parts  of  this 
territory,  and  afford  subjects  for  investiga- 
tion to  the  contemplative  and  the  curious. 
Mr.  Stevens  gives  the  following  account  of 
a visit  to  the  remains  of  the  past. 

On  the  15th,  at  eleven  o’clock,  we  ar- 
rived at  the  hacienda  of  Uxmal.  It  stood 
in  its  suit  of  sombre  grey,  with  cattle-yard, 
large  trees,  and  tanks,  the  same  as  when 
we  left  it ; but  there  were  no  friends  of  old 
to  welcome  us;  the  Delmonico  major-domo 
had  gone  to  Tobasco,  and  the  other  had 
been  obliged  to  leave  on  account  of  illness. 
The  mayoral  remembered  us,  but  we  did 
not  know  him ; and  we  determined  to  pass 
(144) 


1 

) 

1 

i 

) 

1 

I, 

1 

s 


EUINS  OF  UXMAL,  BY  MOONLIGHT. 


KUINS  AND  RAPID  VEGETATION.  147 

on  and  take  up  our  abode  immediately  in 
the  ruins.  Stopping  a few  minutes  to  give 
directions  about  the  luggage,  we  mounted 
again,  and  in  ten  minutes,  emerging  from 
the  wood,  came  out  again  from  the  open 
field,  in  which,  grand  and  lofty  as  when  we 
saw  it  before,  stood  the  House  of  the  Dwarf, 
but  the  first  glance  showed  us  that  a year 
had  made  great  changes.  The  sides  of  the 
lofty  structure,  then  bare  and  naked,  were 
now  covered  with  high  grass,  bushes,  and 
weeds,  and  on  the  top  were  bushes  and 
weeds  twenty  feet  high.  The  House  of  the 
Nuns  was  almost  smothered,  and  the  whole 
field  was  covered  with  a rank  growth  of 
grass  and  weeds,  over  which  we  could  barely 
look  as  we  rode  through.  The  foundations, 
terraces,  and  tops  of  the  buildings  were 
overgrown;  weeds  and  vines  were  rioting 
and  creeping  on  the  facades ; and  mounds, 
terraces,  and  ruins  were  a mass  of  destroy- 
ing verdure.  A strong  and  vigorous  nature 
was  struggling  for  mastery  over  art ; wrap- 
ping the  city  in  its  suffocating  embraces, 
and  burying  it  from  sight.  It  seemed,  as 


148  RUINS  AND  RAPID  VEGETATION. 

if  the  grave  was  closing  over  a friend,  and 
we  had  arrived  barely  in  time  to  take  our 
farewell.  Amid  this  mass  of  desolation, 
grand  and  stately  as  it  was  when  we  left  it, 
stood  the  Casa  del  Gobernador,  but  with  all 
its  terraces  covered,  and  separated  from  us 
by  a mass  of  impenetrable  verdure.  On  the 
left  of  the  field  was  an  overgrown  milpa, 
along  the  edge  of  which  a path  led  in  front 
of  this  building.  Following  this  path,  we 
turned  the  corner  of  the  terrace,  and  on  the 
farthest  side  dismounted,  and  tied  our 
horses.  The  grass  and  weeds  were  above 
our  heads,  and  we  could  see  nothing.  The 
mayoral  broke  a way  through  them,  and 
we  reaehed  the  foot  of  the  terrace.  Work- 
ing our  way  over  the  stones  with  much  toil, 
w'e  reached  the  top  of  the  highest  terrace. 
Here,  too,  the  grass  and  weeds  were  of  the 
same  rank  growth.  We  moved  directly  to 
the  wall  at  the  east  end,  and  entered  the 
first  open  door.  Here  the  mayoral  wished 
us  to  take  up  our  abode ; but  we  knew  the 
localities  better  than  he  did,  and,  creeping 
along  the  front  as  close  to  the  wall  as  pos- 


BUINS  AND  RAPID  VEGETATION.  149 

sible,  cutting  some  of  the  bushes  and  tear- 
ing apart  and  trampling  down  others,  we 
reached  the  central  apartment.  Here  we 
stopped.  Swarms  of  bats,  roused  by  our 
approach,  fluttered  and  flew  through  the 
long  chamber,  and  passed  out  of  the  doors. 

These  ruins  belong  to  an  unknown  period 
of  antiquity.  They  were  probably  erected 
by  a race  of  men  greatly  superior  in  civili- 
zation and  art  to  the  Indians  who  were 
found  in  Central  America,  at  the'  time  of 
Spanish  invasion. 


13* 


The  Tyrol  is  one  of  the  most  picturesque 
regions  in  Europe.  The  valleys  are  fertile, 
beautiful,  and  healthy ; the  mountains,  bold, 
lofty,  and  grand.  The  country  is  inhabited 
by  a rough,  hardy,  and  industrious  pea- 
santry. The  religion  of  the  Tyrolians  is 
Catholic,  and  the  people  are  remarkably 
devout,  and  are  accustomed  to  keep  all  the 
feasts  of  the  church  as  holidays.  Kifle- 
shooting  and  dancing  form  their  principal 
amusements.  “No  fete-day,”  says  Mur- 
ray’s ‘Hand-Book,’  “holiday,  or  marriage 
passes  off  'without  a rustic  ball ; such  enter- 
tainments afford  the  traveller  insight  into 
the  manners  and  customs  of  the  people, 
and  an  opportunity  of  observing  the  varie- 
ties of  costume.  Those,  however,  who  have 
formed  their  notions  of  a Tyrolese  dance 
(150) 


TYROLIANS. 


THE  TYROLIANS. 


153 


from  a ballet  at  the  opera,  will  be  mucli 
disappointed.  They  will  find  the  dancers 
assembled  in  the  close  low  room  of  an  inn, 
so  thronged  that  it  would  appear  impossible 
to  move,  much  less  dance  among  the  throng ; 
yet  no  sooner  does  the  music"  strike  up, 
than  the  whole  is  in  a whirl ; no  jostling  and 
confusion  occur,  and  the  time  of  the  waltz 
is  kept  with  the  most  unerring  precision. 
Instead  of  the  elegant  costume  of  the  theatre, 
with  its  short  petticoats  and  flying  ribands, 
they  will  find  the  lasses  decked  out  in  pointed 
hats,  or  round  fur  or  woollen  caps,  or  in 
handkerchiefs  tied  under  their  chins,  and 
waists  reaching  up  nearly  to  their  necks. 
The  men  often  wear  Hessian  boots,  which 
they  strike  together  with  great  clatter  by 
way  of  beating  time,  every  now  and  then 
uttering  a shrill  cry,  and  leaping  round  in 
the  air,  exactly  in  the  manner  of  the 
Highland  fling.  The  enthusiasm,  almost 
most  approaching  to  frenzy,  with  which  the 
dance  is  kept  up,  in  spite  of  the  heat  and 
crowd,  from  noon  till  night,  is  truly  sur- 
prising. The  partners  often  seize  each 


154 


THE  TYROLIANS. 


other  by  the  shoulders,  in  an  attitude  not 
unlike  hugging ; they  do  not  always  follow 
the  same  monotonous  revolution,  but  at  one 
time  the  man  steps  round  his  partner;  at 
I another,  lifting  her  high  in  the  air,  he  twirls 

her  round  on  her  heel  with  a rapidity  that 
; makes  her  appear  to  spin,  and  then,  quickly 

re-uniting,  they  resume  their  circular  evo- 
lutions with  an  agility  and  perseverance 
Ills  truly  marvellous. 

The  Tyrolian  boys,  with  hand  organ  and 
marmot,  are  seen  wandering  about  most  of 
the  great  cities  of  Europe. 


0sfHei]es  MHiS  Jfoi*3e3. 

Hunting  upon  the  plains  of  South  Ame- 
rica is  the  most  exciting  sport.  But  it  re- 
quires fine  horsemanship  and  sure  skill  in 
the  use  of  the  lasso,  or  noose,  which  is 
thrown  over  the  heads  of  the  game.  Eo- 
bertson,  an  English  traveller,  gives  the  fol- 

14  (157) 


158  HUNTING  OSTRICHES  AND  WILD  HORSES. 

lowing  account  of  his  hunting  adventures 
upon  the  plains  of  Paraguay. 

We  had  taken  three  brace  of  birds,  when, 
an  ostrich  starting  before  us,  Candioti,  Jun., 
gave  the  war-whoop  of  pursuit  to  his 
Gaucho  followers,  and  to  me  the  well-known 
intimation  of  “Vamos,  Senor  Don  Juan.” 
Off  went,  or  rather  flew,  the  Gauchos ; my 
steed  bounded  away  in  their  company,  and 
we  were  now,  instead  of  tracking  an  invi- 
sible bird  through  tufted  grass,  in  full  cry 
after  the  nimble,  conspicuous,  and  athletic 
ostrich.  With  his  erect  and  angry  eye, 
towering  above  all  herbage,  our  game  flew 
from  us,  by  the  combined  air  of  wings  and 
limbs,  at  the  rate  of  sixteen  miles  an  hour. 
The  chase  lasted  half  that  time ; wlien  an 
Indian  peon,  starting  a head  of  the  close 
phalanx  of  his  mounted  competitors,  whirled 
his  bales,  with  admirable  grace  and  dex- 
terity, around  his  head,  and  with  deadly 
aim  flung  them  over  the  half-running,  half- 
flying, but  now  devoted  ostrich.  Irretriev- 
ably entangled,  down  came  the  giant  bird, 
rolling,  fluttering,  panting;  and  being  in 


HUNTING  OSTRICHES  AND  WILD  HORSES.  159 

an  instant  despatched,  the  company  or  the 
field  stripped  him  of  his  feathers,  struck 
them  in  their  girdles,  and  left  the  plucked 
and  mangled  carcass  in  the  plain,  a prey 
to  the  vultures,  which  were  already  hover- 
ing around  us.  We  now  came  upon  an  im- 
mense herd  of  wild  horses,  and  Candioti, 
Jun.,  said,  “Now  Senor  Don  Juan,  I must 
show  how  we  tame  a colt.”  So  saying,  the 
word  was  given  for  the  pursuit  of  the  herd, 
and  off,  once  more,  like  lightning  started 
the  Gaucho  horsemen,  Candioti  and  myself 
keeping  up  with  them.  The  herd  consisted 
of  about  two  thousand  horses,  neighing  and 
snorting,  with  ears  erect  and  flowing  tails, 
their  manes  outspread  to  the  wind,  affrighted 
the  moment  they  were  conscious  of  pursuit. 

The  Gauchos  set  up  their  usual  cry ; the 
dogs  were  left  in  the  distance,  and  it  was 
not  till  we  had  followed  the  flock  at  full 
speed,  and  without  a check,  for  five  miles, 
that  the  two  headmost  peons  launched  their 
halos  at  the  horse  which  each  had  respec- 
tively singled  out  of  the  herd.  Down  to  the 
ground,  with  frightful  somersets,  came  two 


160  • HUNTING  OSTRICHES  AND  WILD  HORSES. 

gallant  colts.  The  herd  continued  its  head- 
long flight,  leaving  behind  their  two  pros- 
trate companions.  Upon  these  the  whole 
band  of  Guachos  now  ran  in ; lazos  were 
applied  to  tie  their  legs;  one  man  held 
down  the  head  of  each  horse,  and  another 
the  hind  quarters,  while  with  singular  ra- 
pidity and  dexterity  other  two  Gauchos  put 
the  saddles  and  bridles  on  their  fallen, 
trembling,  and  nearly  frantic  victims. 
This  done,  the  two  men  who  had  brought 
down  the  colts  bestrode  them  as  they  still 
lay  on  the  ground.  In  a moment  the  lazos 
which  bound  their  legs  were  loosed,  and  at 
the  same  time  a shout  from  the  field  so 
fiightened  the  potros,  that  up  they  started 
on  all  fours,  but  to  their  astonishment,  each 
with  a rider  on  his  back,  rivetted,  as  it  were, 
to  the  saddle,  and  controlling  them  by 
means  of  a never-before-dreamed-of  bit  in 
his  mouth.  The  animals  made  a simulta- 
neous and  most  surprising  vault:  they 
reared,  plunged,  and  kicked;  now  they 
started  off  at  full  gallop,  and  anon  stopped 
short  in  their  career,  with  their  heads  be- 


HUNTING  OSTRICHES  AND  WILD  HORSES.  161 

tween  their  legs,  endeavoring  to  throw  their 
riders.  “ Que  esperanza,”  “ vain  hope,  in- 
deed !”  Immoveable  sat  the  two  Tape  In- 
dians; they  smiled  at  the  unavailing  at- 
tempts of  the  turbulent  and  outrageous  ani- 
mals to  unseat  them ; and  in  less  than  an 
hour  from  the  time  of  their  mounting,  it  was 
very  evident  who  were  to  be  the  masters. 

The  horses  did  their  very  worst,  the  In- 
dians never  lost  either  the  security  or  the 
grace  of  their  seats ; till,  after  two  hours  of 
the  most  violent  efforts  to  rid  themselves  of 
their  burden,  the  horses  were  so  exhausted, 
that,  drenched  in  sweat,  with  gored  and 
palpitating  sides,  and  hanging  down  their 
heads,  they  stood  for  five  minutes  together, 
panting  and  confounded,  but  they  made  not 
a single  effort  to  move.  Then  came  the 
Gaucho’s  turn  to  exercise  his  more  positive 
authority.  Hitherto  he  had  been  entirely 
upon  the  defensive.  His  object  was  simply 
to  keep  his  seat  and  tire  out  the  horse.  He 
now  wanted  to  move  it  in  a given  direction, 
wayward,  zigzag ; often  interrupted  was  his 
course  at  first,  still  the  Gaucho  made  for  a 
^ li* 


162  HUNTING  OSTRICHES  AND  WILD  HORSES. 


given  point ; and  they  advanced  towards  it, 
till  at  the  end  of  about  three  hours  the  now 
mastered  animals  moved  in  nearly  a direct 
line,  and  in  company  with  the  other  horses, 
to  the  questo,  or  small  subordinate  esta- 
blishment, on  the  estate  to  which  we  were 
repairing.  When  we  got  there,  the  two 
horses,  which  so  shortly  before  had  been 
free  as  the  wind,  they  tied  to  a stake  of  the 
corral,  the  slaves  of  lordly  man,  and  all  hope 
of  emancipation  was  at  an  end. 


I 


The  following  lively  description  of  a kan- 
garoo hunt,  in  Australia,  is  given  by  one 
who  had  much  experience  in  that  singular 
sport,  and  whose  “Tales  of  the  Colonies” 
has  been  widely  read.  The  hunt  is  some- 
times pursued  on  foot,  and  sometimes  on 
horseback.  The  former  is  generally  preferred. 

It  was  just  light  when  the  stock-keeper 
called  me,  and  I wasn’t  long  dressing.  I 
took  one  of  the  large  pistols  that  father 

(163) 


164  A KANGAROO  HUNT,  IN  AUSTRALIA. 

said  I might  have,  and  the  stock-keeper  had 
a musket,  and  we  had  half  a damper  and  a 
paper  of  salt,  and  I had  my  big  hack-knife, 
and  so  off  we  went.  I do  think  Hector 
knew  he  was  going  to  have  some  kangaroo ; 
for  he  seemed  so  glad,  and  licked  his  chops, 
and  Fly  wagged  her  tail,  and  the  morning 
was  so  beautiful,  and  what  do  you  think, 
father  ? the  bird  that  mother  likes  to  hear 
so  much  is  a magpie ! it  is  indeed ; for  I 
saw  it,  and  it’s  just  like  an  English  magpie, 
only  it  sings  so  beautifully.  We  walked 
over  the  plain  till  we  came  to  the  hills ; the 
dogs  kept  quiet  behind  us.  The  stock- 
keeper  said  I might  see  they  had  been  well 
trained ; they  kept  their  heads  low  and  their 
tails  hanging  down  behind  them,  as  if  they 
had  no  life  in  them  ; but  you  should  have 
seen  them  when  they  got  sight  of  a kanga- 
roo, didn’t  they  pluck  up!  We  went  on 
till  we  got  about  four  or  live  miles  from  the 
tents,  and  then  we  did  not  talk,  for  the 
kangaroos  are  startled  at  the  least  noise ; 
they  are  just  like  hares  for  that. 

Then  the  stock-keeper  stood  still.  He 


A KANGAROO  HUNT,  IN  AUSTRALIA.  165 

said  to  the  dogs,  “ Go  find,”  and  then  the 
dogs  cantered  about  around  us,  going  fur- 
ther and  further  OS',  till  Hector  began  to 
smell  about  very  earnestly.  “ He  has  got 
scent;”  said  the  stock-keeper;  and  so  he 
had,  for  he  galloped  off  with  his  nose  to  the 
ground  straight  ahead.  Fly  saw  him,  and 
she  galloped  after.  “ I think  it’s  a big  one,” 
said  the  stock-keeper,  “ the  dogs  seem  so 
warm  at  it.”  I was  running  after  them  as 
fast  as  I could,  when  the  stock-keeper 
called  me  to  stop.  “ Stop,”  said  he,  “ it’s 
of  no  use  for  you  to  run,  you  could  not  keep 
up  with  them.” 

“Why,  what  are  we  to  do?”  said  I;  “if 
they  kill  a kangaroo,  how  can  we  find  it  ?” 
“Wait,  a bit,”  said  he;  “all  in  good  time. 
If  the  dogs  kill  a kangaroo,  we  shall  find 
him.  I’ll  warrant.”  So  we  waited  and 
waited  till  I was  quite  tired ; and  a good 
while  after  Hector  came  back  quite  slowly, 
as  if  he  was  tired,  with  Fly  following  after. 
The  stock-keeper  looked  at  his  mouth. 
“ What’s  that  for  ?”  said  I.  “ To  see  if  he 
has  killed,”  said  he ; “ look  here,  his  mouth 


166  A KANGAROO  HUNT,  IN  AUSTRALIA. 

is  bloody,  and  that’s  come  by  killifag  a kan- 
garoo, you  may  be  sure  of  it.” 

Then  the  stock-keeper  stood  up,  and  said 
to  Hector,  “ Show and  then  Hector  trotted 
off,  not  fast,  but  pretty  fast,  so  that  I was 
obliged  to  trot  too  to  keep  up  with  him ; 
and  he  trotted  on  and  on  till  I was  rather 
tired,  I dare  say  for  three  miles  from  where 
we  were  at  first;  and  on  he  went,  and  we 
following  him,  till  he  brought  us  to  a dead 
kangaroo,  close  to  a little  pond  of  water. 

It  was  a monstrous  big  one,  with  such 
claws  on  each  side  of  his  hind  legs ; a claw 
that  would  rip  up  a dog  in  a moment,  or  a 
man  too,  if  he  got  at  him.  “ Good  dog,” 
said  the  stock-keeper ; and  Hector  wagged 
his  tail,  and  seemed  to  like  to  be  praised. 
Then  the  stock-keeper  gave  me  his  gun  to 
hold,  and  he  cut  open  the  kangaroo,  and 
gave  the  inside  to  the  dogs.  Then  he 
skinned  the  upper  part  down  to  the  loins, 
and  cut  the  kangaroo  in  half,  and  hung  it 
up  in  a tree,  noting  the  place ; the  other 
half  he  left  on  the  ground ; that  is,  when 
he  went  away  from  the  place,  for  he  would 


A KANGAROO  HUNT,  IN  AOSTRALIA.  167 

not  let  the  dogs  have  more  than  a taste  of 
the  blood,  lest  it  should  spoil  their  hunting. 
“ What’s  to  be  done  now  ?”  said  I.  “ We’ll 
kill  another,”  said  the  stock-keeper,  “if  you 
are  not  tired.”  I sai . I was  not  tired  a bit ; 
so  after  we  had  rested  a little  while,  we 
went  on  again,  the  dogs  following  us  as  at 
first. 

We  saw  plenty  of  brush-kangaroos,  but 
we  would  not  touch  them.  After  we  had 
got  a mile  or  two,  the  stock-keeper,  who 
had  been  examining  the  ground  all  the  way 
along,  said,  “I  think  there  are  some  big 
ones  hereabouts,  by  the  look  of  the  marks ; 
so  he  said  to  the  dogs,  “Go  find,”  as  he  had 
said  before.  Almost  directly  we  saw  such 
a large  fellow — I’m  sure  he  was  six  feet 
high — he  looked  at  us  and  at  the  dogs  for 
a moment,  and  then  off  he  went. 

My  gracious ! what  hops  he  did  give ! he 
hopped  with  his  two  hind-legs,  with  his 
fore  legs  in  the  air,  and  his  tail  straight 
out  behind — and  wasn’t  it  a tail ! it  was  as 
thick  as  a bed-post;  and  this  great  tail 
went  wag,  wag,  up  and  down,  as  he  jumped, 


168  A KANGAROO  HPNT,  IN  AUSTRALIA. 

and  seemed  to  balance  him  behind.  But 
Heetor  and  Fly  were  after  him.  This  time 
the  stock-keeper  ran  too,  for  the  ground  was 
level  and  clear  of  fallen  timber,  and  you 
eould  see  a good  way  before  you.  I had 
begun  to  feel  a little  tired,  but  I didn’t  feel 
tired  then.  Hop,  hop,  went  the  kangaroo, 
and  the  dogs  after  him,  and  we  after  the 
dogs ; and  we  scampered  on  till  I was  quite 
out  of  breath ; and  the  kangaroo  was  a good 
bit  before  the  dogs,  when  he  turned  up  a 
hill.  “ Now  we  shall  have  him,”  said  the 
stock-keeper;  “ the  dogs  will  beat  him  up- 
hill.” I wanted  my  breath,  but  I kept  up, 
and  we  scrambled  up  the  hill,  and  I thought 
the  dogs  would  get  him ; but  the  kangaroo 
got  to  the  top  of  the  hill  first,  and  when  we 
got  a sight  of  him,  he  was  bounding  down 
the  hill  making  such  prodigious  leaps  at 
every  jump,  over  every  thing,  that  you  could 
not  believe  it  if  you  didn’t  see  it.  The  dogs 
had  no  chance  with  him  down-hill.  “It’s 
of  no  use,”  said  the  stock-keeper,  “ for  us  to 
try  to  keep  up  with  him ; we  may  as  well 
stay  here.  He’ll  lead  the  dogs  a pretty 


% 


KANGAROO  HUNT. 


15 


X -r  - A 


v; 


.f  tl  •:  '^^,t,p>ar-  ’ ■ ■'  ■ (tw'^TF  0 


■+-  '»'-T 


f 

':?>i  ■/■'•  ■''  '-  - :•  ;■  -•  • 5-  o«Q 

-iS. jv«  I i**‘'  ^ te  ‘ 


JbOfi  . .•■ ''ij  jnt;.'.'  •!-Tslji.u/ 


♦ : 

rjf 

y. 

f-  fp 

- r'  »Vr',.  • 

i -jr  : .•..■mil 

‘ !" 

1-  :> 

:r  'a 

11!  ■/  li^rioll 

vi  1 • 

m 

;r: 

'r*i 

ii:3'S 

i>d  Jo(J  “ 
^.d'l  ?r  I>/lf> 

<r 

oD'/'y*-;- 

•■  ;\  ', 

r -vf- 

'.«'  ^\T-  '• 

't'fl.'d/ifi  j)f)l 

•■'W; 

■ 

-V 

-Vili' ' 

:H  "’'Wife 

^r;!  ■ 

• , ; 

' j hf'i»(i3'iJa 

'i'  ' 

r <■  ' , * 

iSsS; 

-!  i; 

• . ,i  „. 

• " mW 

■»;5‘ 

-,l  \>J  i 

i 

•"*  ' " 

:•  <?1'  :'.;iiiini|i 

'A-'  ^ 

\ 

,.'>T; 

-KUiip 

1 


‘ ■ ’-I 


' rp  7V; 


odi 


- ife'.r:  • ' ' •r>i'.-  ■'  wiri 


■ ■.•’''■'.i;y:'T''  ■.'llo 

^^•'  . Initd;,-'/*  • ■ ",  . “ < -5d/»’.f^^<'rvy  (Jlfa;- 

■ U/>(' ■ ) Iwiv 

, -d  . MLtt  „■>  j 

I h ; ^ ' • ' 't  aSf 


■\ 


-V 


r-;  * 

’’■*■' •''M ' 

'tf  X9 


•-:r^ 


A KANGAROO  HUNT,  IN  AUSTRALIA.  171 

chase,  will  that  fellow ; he’s  a Boomer,  and 
one  of  the  biggest  rascals  I ever  saw.” 

So  we  sat  down  at  the  top  of  the  hill, 
under  a gum  tree,  and  there  we  sat  a long 
time,  I don’t  know  how  long,  until  we  saw 
Hector  coming  up.  The  stock-keeper  looked 
at  his  mouth.  “ He  has  killed,!’  said  he ; 

“ but  he  has  got  a little  scratch  in  the  tussle, 
and  so  has  Fly.  That  big  chap  was  almost 
too  much  for  two  dogs.”  Then  he  said,  ” Go 
show!”  and  Hector  and  Fly  trotted  along- 
straight  to  where  the  kangaroo  lay,  without 
turning  to  the  right  or  left,  but  going  over 
every  thing,  just  as  if  they  knew  the  road 
quite  well. 

We  came  to  a hollow,  and  there  we  saw 
the  kangaroo  lying  dead.  Just  as  the 
stock-keeper  was  going  to  cut  him  open,  I 
saw  another  kangaroo  not  a hundred  yards 
off.  “There’s  another,”  said  I,  and  the  dogs, 
although  they  had  had  a hard  battle  with 
the  kangaroo  lying  dead,  started  off  directly. 
Close  to  us  was  a large  pond  of  water,  like 
a little  lake.  The  kangaroo  was  between 
the  dogs  and  the  lake.  Not  knowing  how 


1V2  A KANGAROO  HUNT,  IN  AUSTRALIA. 

to  get  past,  I suppose,  he  hopped  right  into 
the  lake,  and  the  dogs  went  after  him.  He 
hopped  further  into  the  lake,  where  the 
water  got  deeper,  and  then  the  dogs  were 
obliged  to  swim ; but  they  were  game  and 
would  not  leave  their  work.  When  tlie 
kangaroo  found  himself  getting  pretty  deep 
in  the  water,  he  stopped  and  turned  on  the 
dogs ; but  he  could  not  use  his  terrible  hind- 
claws  : so  when  one  of  the  dogs  made  a rise 
at  his  throat,  (they  always  try  to  get  hold 
of  the  throat,)  he  took  hold  of  him  with  his 
fore-legs,  and  ducked  him  under  the  water. 

Then  the  other  dog  made  a spring  at  him, 
and  the  kangaroo  ducked  him  in  the  same 
way.  “ Well,”  said  the  stock-keeper,  “ I 
never  saw  the  like  of  that  before ; this  is  a 
new  game.”  And  all  the  while  the  dogs 
kept  springing  at  the  kangaroo’s  throat, 
and  the  kangaroo  kept  ducking  them  under 
the  water.  But  it  was  plain  that  the  dogs 
were  getting  exhausted,  for  they  were 
obliged  to  swim  and  be  ducked  too;  while 
the  kangaroo  stood  with  his  head  and  fore- 
legs out  of  the  water. 


A KANGAROO  HUNT,  IN  AUSTRALIA.  173 

“This  will  never  do,”  said  the  stock- 
keeper;  “he’ll drown  the  dogs  at  this  rate.” 
So  he  took  his  gun  from  me  and  put  a ball 
in  it.  “Now,”  said  he,  “for  a good  shot; 
I must  take  care  not  to  hit  the  dogs.”  He 
put  his  gun  over  the  branch  of  a dead  tree, 
and  watching  his  time,  he  fired  and  hit  the 
kangaroo  in  the  neck,  and  down  it  came  in 
the  water. 

He  then  called  off  the  dogs,  and  they 
swam  back  to  us.  “ He  is  such  a prime 
one,”  said  he,  “ it  would  be  a pity  to  lose 
his  skin ;”  so  he  waded  in  after  him,  and 
dragged  him  out.  “ It’s  a pity,”  said  he, 
“ to  lose  so  much  meat,  but  his  hind-quar- 
ters would  be  a bigger  load  than  I should 
like  to  carry  home ; but  I must  have  his 
skin,  and  I tell  j’ou  what,  young  fellow,  you 
shall  have  his  tail,  though  I’m  thinking  it’s 
rather  more  than  you  can  carry  home.”^ 

This  roused  me  a bit,  to  think  I couldn’t 
carry  a kangaroo’s  tail;  so  1 determined  to 
take  it  home,  if  I dropped,  though  I must 
say  it  was  so  heavy  that  I was  obliged  to 
rest  now  and  then,  and  the  stock-keeper 

lo’^ 


174  A KANGAKOO  HUNT,  IN  AUSTRALIA. 

carried  it  a good  part  of  the  way  for  me. 
“ What  shall  we  do  with  the  meat?”  said  I. 
“What  shall  we  do  with  it?”  said  he;  “are 
you  hungry?”  “I  believe  you,”  said  I. 
“Then  we’ll  make  a dinner  off  him,”  said 
the  stock-keeper. 

With  that  we  got  together  some  dry  sticks, 
and  made  a fire,  and  the  stock-keeper  took 
the  ram-rod  of  his  musket,,  and  first  he  cut 
a slice  of  the  lean  off  the  loins,  which  he 
said  was  the  tenderest  part,  and  put  the 
ramrod  through  it,  and  then  he  cut  out  a 
bit  of  fat,  and  slid  it  on  after  the  lean,  and 
so  on  a bit  of  fat  and  a bit  of  lean,  till  he 
had  put  on  lots  of  slices,  and  so  he  roasted 
them  over  the  fire. 

He  gave  me  the  ramrod  to  hold,  and 
cutting  a long  slice  of  bark  out  of  a gum- 
tree,  made  two  plates,  capital  plates,  he 
said,  for  a bush  dinner.  I told  you  we  had 
got  some  salt  and  some  damper,  and  I was 
pretty  hungry,  as  you  may  suppose,  and  I 
thought  it  the  most  delicious  dinner  I ever 
ate.  When  I had  done,  1 lay  down  on  the 
grass,  and  Hector  and  Fly  came  and  laid 


I 


A KANGAROO  HUNT,  IN  AUSTRALIA.  175 

themselves  down  beside  me,  and  somehow, 
I don’t  know  how  it  was,  I fell  asleep,  I was 
so  tired.  I slept  a good  while,  for  the  stock- 
keeper  said  it  would  have  been  a sin  to  wake 
me,  1 was  in  such  a sweet  sleep.  I woke  up, 
however,  after  a good  nap,  and  felt  as  if  I 
could  eat  a bit  more  kangaroo.  But  it  was 
getting  late,  and  so  we  made  the  best  of 
our  way  home.  We  passed  by  the  place 
where  we  had  killed  the  kangaroo ; so  the 
stock-keeper  brought  home  the  hind- 
quarters and  the  three  skins,  and  I brought 
home  a tail ; and  I really  don’t  know  which  is 
best,  kangaroo  steaks  or  kangaroo  steamer.* 

* Kangaroo  steamer  is  a stew,  made  of  kangaroo  meat 
and  bacon. 


|[SbeK)fqi‘e§  in) 

^BOUT  1510,  Helena,  the  Queen  of  Abys- 
sinia, anxious  to  obtain  the  alliance  of  Por- 
tugal against  the  Turks,  sent  Matthew,  an 
Armenian  merchant,  ambassador  to  Lisbon. 
He  went  by  the  circuitous  route  of  India, 
whei’e  his  dignity  not  being  at  first  recog- 
nised, he  was  somewhat  roughly  treated, 
and  detained  several  years.  When  at  last, 
in  1513,  he  reached  Lisbon.  After  the 
most  favorable  reception,  he  was  sent  back 
with  a fleet,  which,  in  1515,  proceeded  to 
India  under  Lope  Soarez.  The  governor, 
soon  after  his  arrival  in  India  sailed  for  the 
Red  Sea.  The  ships,  meanwhile,  met  with 
so  many  disasters,  that  they  never  reached 
the  port  of  Masuah. 

Soarez  quitted  the  gulf,  and  the  enter- 
prise was  not  resumed  till  he  was  succeeded 
by  a more  able  commander,  named  Lope 
(176) 


ABYSSINIAN  CHIEF. 


M 


I 


, ll 


ADVENTURES  IN  ABYSSINIA.  179 

Sequeira.  This  officer  sailed  from  Goa  on 
the  13th  of  February,  1520,  and  arrived  at 
Masuah  on  the  24th  of  April.  At  the  neigh- 
boring port  of  Arkeeko  he  had  an  interview 
with  the  Baharnagash,  who,  as  vassal  to  the 
monarch  of  Abyssinia,  held  sway  over  a 
wide  extent  of  maritime  territory.  He  gave 
the  Portuguese  a cordial  welcome,  and  un- 
dertook to  convey  to  court  both  Matthew 
and  an  European  embassy.  At  the  head 
of  this  mission  Sequeira  placed  Eodrigo  de 
Lima. 

The  embassy  left  Arkeeko  on  the  30th  of 
April,  and  on  the  4th  of  May  arrived  at  the 
monastery  of  St.  Michael,  which  was  de- 
pendent on  a more  extensive  establishment 
called  Bisan,  or  that  of  the  Vision.  Here 
they  were  attacked  by  an  epidemic  malady, 
which  proved  fatal  to  the  merchant  and  to 
one  of  his  countrymen.  To  escape  its  ma- 
lignant influence  they  hastened  forward, 
first  to  Bisan  and  then  to  Dobarwa,  the  re- 
sidence of.  the  Baharnagash,  to  which  he 
had  now  returned.  On  this  occasion  he  re- 
ceived them  rather  coldly,  and  not  without 


180 


ADVENTURES  IN  ABYSSINIA. 


reluctance  afiforded  them  the  means  of  pro- 
ceeding. The  passage,  too,  of  the  high  and 
rugged  mountains  of  Tigre  was  found  rather 
formidable.  Violent  storms  of  rain  and 
wind  often  compelled  them  to  seek  shelter 
under  the  rocks ; while  the  fury  of  the  tor- 
rents and  the  roaring  of  the  gale  through 
the  immense  woods  could  not  be  heard  with- 
out alarm.  Numerous  wild  animals  stalked 
around,  showing  no  fear  at  the  presence  of 
man ; apes  were  sometimes  seen  in  bands 
of  several  hundreds.  On  descending  into 
the  plain,  they  found  it  desolated  by  the 
more  dreadful  scourge  of  locusts.  When 
the  inhabitants  saw  the  air  darkened  by 
those  destructive  insects,  they  became,  it  is 
said,  “as  dead  men,”  crying  out,  “We  are 
undone,  for  the  locusts  come !”  Great  num- 
bers of  both  sexes  were  observed  flying  to 
other  districts  in  search  of  food,  their  own 
lands  having  been  entirely  consumed  by 
this  dreadful  visitation. 

Amidst  these  difiiculties  and  annoyances, 
the  mission  slowly  reached  the  southern 
province  of  Angote,  which  they  found  a de- 


ADVENTURES  IN  ABYSSINIA. 


181 


lightful  region,  watered  by  many  streams, 
and  having  seedtime  and  harvest  through- 
out the  year.  The  viceroy  invited  them  to 
a feast,  where  they  found  neither  chair, 
table-cloth,  nor  towel.  Mats  were  spread 
on  the  floor,  and  a wooden  board  was  co- 
vered with  round  cakes ; over  which  was 
placed  the  delicate  dish,  which  Alvarez 
scarcely  dares  to  mention, — “ pieces  of  raw 
flesh,  with  wpm  blood,” — which  the  gover- 
nor and  his  ladies  devoured  with  delight. 
But  the  Portuguese  could  not  allow  these 
dainties  to  enter  their  lips.  The  wine  also, 
or  rather  hydromel,  “walked  about  with 
great  fury;”  the  mistress  of  the  house, 
though  concealed  behind  a curtain,  taking 
an  ample  share. 

While  proceeding  to  the  court  or  camp 
of  the  Abyssinian  monarch,  Alvarez  saw 
the  lofty  hill  on  which,  by  a singular  and 
jealous  policy,  the  princesses  of  the  blood- 
royal  are  constantly  confined.  It  was  of 
great  extent,  begirt  by  a circuit  of  lofty  and 
perpendicular  cliffs  appearing  to  reach  al- 
most to  the  sky.  On  its  summit  was  a 

16 


182 


ADVENTURES  IN  ABYSSINIA. 


large  plain,  whence  other  hills  are  inter- 
spersed with  valleys,  of  which  the  most 
beautiful  was  chosen  as  the  retreat  of  the 
august  prisoners.  The  strangers  having 
approached  too  near  it,  were  notified  of  their 
error  by  a shower  of  stones. 

After  passing  through  the  province  of 
Amhara  and  Shoa,  the  embassy,  on  the  19th 
of  October,  came  in  view  of  an  almost  end- 
less range  of  tents  and  pavilions  over- 
spreading an  immense  plain.  This  was 
the  grand  array  or  regal  camp  of  the  King 
of  Abyssinia,  who,  engaged  in  continual  war, 
had  at  this  time  no  other  capital.  They 
forthwith  advanced  between  two  rows  of 
about  forty  thousand  persons,  among  whom 
a hundred  were  constantly  employed  with 
whips  in  their  hands  to  maintain  order.  On 
this  occasion  they  saw  only  the  cabeata,  or 
chief  priest  and  minister,  who  conveyed 
several  courteous  messages  between  them 
and  the  monarch,  whom,  however,  they 
neither  saw  nor  heard.  But  on  the  20th 
they  were  again  sent  for,  when  they  ob- 
served an  elevated  seat,  which  they  call  a 

(7) 


ADVENTURES  IN  ABYSSINIA. 


183 


bed,  with  rich  curtains  of  silk  and  gold 
concealing  the  king  from  their  view,  but 
not  preventing  their  holding  some  conver- 
sation wdth  him.  His  first  address  was 
not  altogether  cordial ; he  even  showed 
some  jealousy  of  their  motives  in  coming 
to  Abvssinia ; but  he  listened  to  their  ex- 
planations,  and  at  length  showed  a more 
friendly  disposition.  Finally,  on  the  1st 
of  November,  they  w^ere  admitted  to  a more 
formal  audience,  when  a series  of  large 
curtains  were  raised,  each  richer  than  the 
other,  till  at  last  the  richest  of  all,  was 
lifted,  behind  which  appeared  Prester  John 
seated,  in  a splendid  dress  of  silk  and  gold, 
and  holding  in  his  hand  a silver  cross. 
This  prince,  who  was  David  III.,  is  described 
as  a young  man  of  about  twenty-three,  of 
low  stature,  and  “of  the  color  of  ruddy- 
apples.” 

The  embassy  remained  five  years  in  Abys- 
sinia, and  then  having  secured  good  feeling 
between  the  two  courts,  and  induced  the 
emperor  to  embrace  the  Catholic  religion,  it 
sailed  for  Europe,  .with  presents  and  a letter 


184 


ADVENTURES  IN  ABYSSINIA. 


for  the  King  of  Portugal.  The  Portuguese 
were  the  first  European  people  to  visit  the 
eastern  coast  of  Africa,  and  their  enterprise 
brought  them  much  wealth. 


AN  ABYSSINIAN  FAMILY. 


1 


In  the  neighborhood  of  the  Eed  river,  the 
grisly  bears  ai’e  very  numerous.  The  chief 
of  a tribe  of  Indians  was  returning  home 
from  a general  council,  and  had  lingered 
behind  his  men.  When  not  very  far  from 
his  hut,  he  met  a .bear  and  two  cubs,  and 
knowing  the  ferocious  nature  of  the  animals, 
was  considerably  alarmed. 

They  were  so  close,  however,  that  he 
16*  (185) 


186 


THE  INDIAN  AND  THE  BEARS. 


could  not  escape ; and  having  no  alterna- 
tive, he  attacked  them,  thinking  that  if  he 
should  be  so  fortunate  as  to  shoot  the  mo- 
ther, he  might  succeed  in  killing  the  cubs 
with  the  butt-end  of  his  gun.  He  therefore 
took  aim,  but  the  gun  missed  fire,  although 
he  had  put  in  a new  flint  that  morning ; 
and  before  he  could  cock  again,  the  bear 
rushed  upon  him,  and  struck  him  such  a 
blow  with  one  of  her  paws  as  to  throw  him 
a distance  of  several  yards.  She  then  ran 
up,  and  seizing  his  head  in  her  mouth, 
stood  still.  He  had  the  presence  of  mind 
to  grasp  her  throat,  and  with  a sudden 
wrench  rescued  his  head  from  her  jaws; 
but  while  he  was  striving  to  choke  her,  one 
of  the  cubs  struck  down  his  arm,  when  for- 
tunately he  remembered  that  he  had  stuek 
a knife  into  his  girdle  behind.  This  he 
drew  with  the  quickness  of  thought ; but 
w'hile  in  the  act  of  striking  the  bear  with  it, 
the  same  cub  caught  his  hand  in  its  mouth, 
and  held  it  fast.  He  seized  the  knife,  how- 
ever, with  his  left  hand,  and  wounded  the 
old  bear  in  several  places,  until  becoming 


THE  INDIAN  AND  THE  BEARS. 


187 


exasperated,  she  struck  him  down  sense- 
less, When  he  recovered  from  his  swoon 
he  found  himself  alone,  with  his  bowels 
partly  protruding,  and  both  his  temples 
lacerated.  He  bound  in  his  intestines  with 
his  belt,  and,  after  staying  the  bleeding  of 
his  many  wounds,  raised  himself  with  diffi- 
culty, cocked  his  gun  and  began  to  move 
slowly  away.  But  he  had  not  proceeded 
ten  steps,  when  the  bears,  which  had  been 
watching  him  all  the  time,  sprung  upon  him. 

His  gun  snapped  once  more,  and  he  was 
entirely  at  their  mercy.  The  mother  again 
knocked  him  down  with  her  paw,  and  seizing 
him,  dragged  him  along,  when,  from  loss  of 
blood  and  the  concussion  of  the  last  blow, 
he  fainted.  On  regaining  his  sensibility, 
he  bound  up  his  wounds,  and  believing 
himself  injured  beyond  recovery,  became 
inspired  by  revenge,  and  resolved  to  die  in 
the  attempt  to  destroy  some  of  his  savage 
foes.  “With  great  difficulty  he  got  on  his 
feet,  cleaned  the  flint  of  his  gun,  drew  his 
knife,  and  looking  round,  stood  resolved  to 
conquer  or  perish. 


188 


THE  INDIAN  AND  THE  BEARS. 


The  bears  rushed  upon  him.  Unable  to 
take  aim,  he  dropped  on  one  knee,  and  supr 
ported  his  gun  on  the  other,  when  the  old 
bear  seizing  the  muzzle  in  her  mouth,  he 
drew  the  trigger  and  shot  her  dead.  The 
cubs,  however,  remained,  and  they  were 
scarcely  less  dangerous,  as  very  little 
strength  now  remained  in  him.  However, 
he  succeeded,  after  inflicting  several  wounds, 
in  driving  them  oflf,  and  sunk  down,  de- 
spairing of  ever  rising  again.  But  having 
lain  for  some  time,  he  found  himself  slightly 
refreshed,  and  suceeeded  in  crawling  to  his 
hut,  where  he  related  what  had  befallen 
him,  and  bidding  farewell  to  his  family, 
laid  himself  down  to  die. 

His  friends  went  in  search  of  the  bears, 
and  found  the  mother  dead,  and  the  grass 
all  round  clotted  with  blood.  The  cubs 
were  traced,  and  having  been  severely 
wounded,  were  easily  destroyed.  The  man- 
gled Indian  having  enjoyed  a sound  sleep 
for  several  hours,  awoke  greatly  refreshed, 
and  having  been  persuaded  to  allow  his 
wounds  to  be  bound,  ultimately  recovered. 


% 


l: 


ELEPHANT  HUNTERS. 


\ 


In)  lifHq. 

The  interior  of  South  Africa  teems  with 
game  of  all  kinds  and  sizes.  Elephants, 
rhinoceroses,  giraffes,  lions,  hyenas,  ante- 
lopes of  various  sorts,  buffaloes,  and  many 
other  animals  are  there  found  in  their  per- 
fection. Adventurous  hunters  from  the 
Cape  colony  frequently  make  long  excur- 

(191) 


192  HUNTING  ADVENTURES  IN  SOUTH  AFRICA. 

sions  into  this  region,  and  though  they  are 
forced  to  encounter  many  dangers,  their 
toils  are  better  rewarded  than  in  any  other 
part  of  the  world.  Some  of  these  bold  men 
have  given  to  the  world  narratives  of  their 
expeditions.  Of  these  the  most  conspicu- 
ous, is  Eoualeyn  Gordon  Gumming,  whose 
exploits  stamp  him  as  the  first  of  hunters. 
His  first  meeting  and  battle  with  wild  ele- 
phants is  thus  narrated. 

I resolved  at  night  to  watch  the  water, 
and  try  what  could  be  done  with  elephants 
by  night-shooting.  I accordingly  ordered 
the  usual  watching  hole  to  be  constructed ; 
and  having  placed  my  bedding  in  it,  re- 
paired thither  shortly  after  sundown.  I 
had  lain  about  two  hours  in  the  hole,  when 
I heard  a low  rumbling  noise  like  distant 
thunder,  caused,  as  the  Bechuanas  affirmed, 
by  the  bowels  of  the  elephants  which  were 
approaching  the  fountain.  I lay  on  my 
back,  with  my  mouth  open,  attentively  lis- 
tening, and  could  hear  them  ploughing  up 
the  earth  with  their  tusks. 

Presently  they  walked  up  to  the  water, 


HUNTING  ADVENTURES  IN  SOUTH  AFRICA.  193 

and  commenced  drinking  within  fifty  yards 
of  me.  They  approached  with  so  quiet  a 
step,  that  I fancied  it  was  the  footsteps  of 
jackals  which  I heard;  and  I was  not 
aware  of  their  presence  until  I heard  the 
water,  which  they  had  drawn  up  in  their 
trunks  and  were  pouring  into  their  mouths, 
dropping  into  the  fountain.  I then  peeped 
from  my  sconce  with  a beating  heart,  and 
beheld  two  enormous  bull  elephants,  which 
looked  like  two  great  castles,  standing  be-  • 
fore  me.  I could  not  see  very  distinctly, 
for  there  was  only  starlight. 

Having  lain  on  my  breast  some  time 
taking  my  aim,  I let  fly  at  one  of  the  ele- 
phants, using  the  Dutch  rifle  carrying  sis 
to  the  pound.  The  ball  told  loudly  on  his 
shoulder,  and  uttering  a loud  cry,  he  stum- 
bled through  the  fountain,  when  both  made 
off  in  difierent  directions.  All  night  large 
herds  of  zebras  and  blue  wildebeests  capered 
around  me,  coming  sometimes  within  a few 
yards.  Several  parties  of  rhinoceroses  also 
made  their  appearance.  I felt  a little  ap- 
prehensive that  lions  might  visit  the  foun- 

N 17 


i 


194  HUNTING  ADVENTURES.  IN  SOUTH  AFRICA. 

tain,  and  every  time  that  hyenas  or  jackals 
lapped  the  water  I looked  forth,  but  no 
lions  appeared.  At  length  I fell  into  a 
sound  sleep,  nor  did  I again  raise  my  head 
until  the  bright  star  of  morn  had  shot  far 
above  the  eastern  horizon. 

On  the  27th,  as  day  dawned,  I left  my 
shooting-hole,  and  proceeded  to  inspect  tlie 
track  of  my  wounded  elephant.  After  fol- 
lowing it  for  some  distance  I came  to,  an 
abrupt  hillock,  and  fancying  that  from  tlie 
summit  a good  view  might  be  obtained  of 
the  surrounding  country,  I left  my  followers 
to  seek  the  track,  while  I ascended.  I did 
not  raise  my  eyes  from  the  ground  until  I 
had  reached  the  highest  pinnacle  of  rock. 
I then  looked  east,  and  to  my  inexpressible 
gratification  I beheld  a troop  of  nine  or  ten 
elephants  quietly  browsing  within  a quarter 
of  a mile  of  me.  I allowed  myself  only  one 
glance  at  them,  and  then  rushed  down  to 
warn  my  followers  to  be  silent. 

A council  of  war  was  hastily  held,  the 
result  of  which  was  my  ordering  Isaac  to 
ride  hard  to  camp,  with  instructions  to  re- 


HUNTING  ADVENTURES  IN  SOUTH  AFRICA.  19o 

turn  as  quickly  as  possible,  accompanied  by 
Kleinboy,  and  to  bring  me  my  dogs,  the 
large  Dutch  rifle,  and  a fresh  horse.  I onee 
more  ascended  the  hillock  to  feast  my  (jyes 
upon  the  enchanting  sight  before  me ; and 
drawing  out  my  spyglass,  I narrowly  ob- 
served the  motions  of  the  elephants.  The 
herd  consisted  entirely  of  females,  several 
of  which  were  followed  by  small  calves. 

Presently,  on  reconnoitring  the  surround- 
ing country,  I discovered  a second  herd, 
consisting  of  five  bull  elephants,  which  were 
quietly  feeding  about  a mile  to  the  north- 
ward. The  cows  were  feeding  towards  a 
rocky  ridge  that  stretched  away  from  the 
base  of  the  hillock  on  which  I stood.  Burn- 
ing with  impatience  to  commence  the  at- 
tack, I resolved  to  try  the  stalking-system 
with  these,  and  to  hunt  the  troop  of  bulls 
with  dogs  and  horses.  Having  thus  de- 
cided, I directed  the  guides  to  watch  the 
elephants  from  the  summit  of  the  hillock, 
and  with  a beating  heart  I approached 
them.  The  ground  and  wind  favoring  me, 
I soon  gained  the  rocky  ridge  towards 


196  HUNTING  ADVENTURES  IN  SOUTH  AFRICA. 

which  they  were  feeding.  They  were  now 
within  one  hundred  yards,  and  I resolved 
to  enjoy  the  pleasure  of  watching  their 
movements  for  a little  before  I fired.  They 
continued  to  feed  slowly  towards  me, 
breaking  the  branches  from  the  trees  with 
their  trunks,  and  eating  the  leaves  and 
tender  shoots.  I soon  selected  the  finest  in 
the  herd,  and  kept  my  eye  on  her  in  par- 
ticular. At  length  two  of  the  troop  had 
walked  slowly  past  at  about  sixty  yards, 
and  the  one  which  I had  selected  was  feed- 
ing with  two  others  on  a thorny  tree  in  front 
of  me. 

My  hand  was  now  as  steady  as  the  rock 
on  which  it  rested,  so  taking  a deliberate 
aim,  I let  fiy  at  her  a little  behind  the  eye. 
She  got  it  hard  and  sharp  just  where  I 
aimed,  but  it  did  not  seem  to  affect  her 
much.  Uttering  a loud  cry,  she  wheeled 
about,  when  I gave  her  the  second  ball, 
close  behind  the  shoulder.  All  the  ele- 
phants uttered  a strange  rumbling  noise, 
and  made  off  in  a line  to  the  northward  at 
a brisk  ambling  pace,  their  huge  fan-like 


HUNTING  ADVENTURES  IN  SOUTH  AFRICA.  197 

ears  flapping  in  the  ratio  of  their  speed.  I 
did  not  wait  to  load,  but  ran  back  to  the 
hillock  to  obtain  a view.  On  gaining  its 
summit,  the  guides  pointed  out  the  ele- 
phants ; they  were  standing  in  a grove  of 
shady  trees,  but  the  wounded  one  was  some 
distance  behind  with  another  elephant, 
doubtless  its  particular  friend,  who  was 
endeavoring  to  assist  it. 

These  elephants  had  probably  never  be- 
fore heard  the  report  of  a gun ; and,  having 
neither  seen  nor  smelt  me,  they  were  una- 
ware of  the  presence  of  man,  and  did  not 
seem  inclined  to  go  any  farther.  Presently 
my  men  hove  in  sight,  bringing  the  dogs ; 
and  when  these  came  up  I waited  some 
time  before  commencing  the  attack,  that 
the  dogs  and  horses  might  recover  their 
wind.  We  then  rode  slowly  towards  the 
elephants,  and  had  advanced  within  two 
hundred  yards  of  them  when,  the  ground 
being  open,  they  observed  us,  and  made  off 
in  an  easterly  direction ; but  the  wounded 
one  immediately  dropped  astern,  and  the 
next  moment  she  was  surrounded  by  the 

17* 


198  HUNTING  ADVENTURES  IN  SOUTH  AFRICA. 

dogs,  which,  barking  angrily,  seemed  to 
engross  her  attention. 

Having  placed  myself  between  her  and 
the  retreating  troop,  I dismounted  to  lire 
within  forty  yards  of  her,  in  open  ground. 
My  horse,  Colesburg,  was  afraid  of  the  ele- 
phants, and  gave  me  much  trouble,  jerking 
my  arm  when  I tried  to  fire.  At  length  I 
let  fly ; but,  on  endeavoring  to  regain  my 
saddle,  Colesberg  declined  to  allow  me  to 
mount ; and  when  I tried  to  lead  him,  and 
run  for  it,  he  only  backed  towards  the 
wounded  elephant. 

At  this  moment  I heard  another  elephant 
close  behind ; and  on  looking  about  1 be- 
held the  “friend,”  with  uplifted  trunk, 
charging  down  upon  me  at  top  speed,  shrilly 
trumpeting  and  following  an  old  black 
pointer  named  Schwart,  that  was  perfectly 
deaf,  and  trotted  along  before  the  enraged 
elephant  quite  unaware  of  what  was  behind 
him.  I felt  certain  that  she  would  have 
either  me  or  my  horse.  I however  deter- 
mined not  to  relinquish  my  steed,  but  to 
hold  on  to  my  bridle.  My  men,  who  of  course 


ELEPHANT  HUNTINO. 


, ' 'j;5,.  iOS  .AtitoA  i^i?o&  onttnra'jJ^jffiWi^ 

•11 

aji-  pa'^i^'miUsw 


, *l^L|^.=- • :.  ?:!  .rZ  ^ -:*..^’i^‘  v.  . v ^ 


i|''  ; •<ti(i.:  ^ 

4'S’'4  k5w^-^‘'’ 


HUNTING  ADVENTURES  IN  SOUTH  AFRICA.  201 

kept  at  a safe  distance,  stood  aghast  with 
their  mouths  open,  and  for  a few  seconds 
my  position  was  not  an  enviable  one.  For- 
tunately, however,  the  dogs  took  off  the  at- 
tention of  the  elephants ; and  just  as  they 
were  upon  me  I managed  to  spring  into  the 
saidle,  where  I was  safe.  As  I turned  my 
back  to  mount,  the  elephants  were  so  very 
near  that  I really  expected  to  feel  one  of 
their  trunks  lay  hold  of  me.  I rode  up  to 
Kleinloy  for  my  double-barrelled  two- 
grooved  rifle ; he  and  Isaac  were  pale  and 
almost  speechless  with  fright.  Eeturning 
to  the  charge,  I was  soon  once  more  along- 
side, and,  firing  from  the  saddle,  I sent 
another  brace  of  bullets  into  the  wounded 
elephant.  Colesburg  was  extremely  un- 
steady, and  destroyed  the  correctness  of 
my  aim. 

The  friend  now  seemed  resolved  to  do 
some  mischief,  and  charged  me  furiously, 
pursuing  me  to  a distance  of  several  hun- 
dred yards.  I therefore  deemed  it  proper 
to  give  her  a gentle  hint  to  act  less  officiously, 
and  accordingly,  having  loaded,  I ap- 


202  HUNTING  ADVENTURES  IN  SOUTH  AFRICA. 


proachcd  within  thirty  yards,  and  gave  it 
her  sharp,  right  and  left,  behind  the 
shoulder,  upon  which  she  at  once  made  off 
with  drooping  trunk,  evidently  with  a 
moi'tal  wound.  I never  recur  to  this  ny 
first  day’s  elephant  shooting  without  re- 
gretting my  folly  in  securing  only  one  ele- 
jihant.  The  first  was  now  dying  and  could 
not  leave  the  ground,  and  the  secono  was 
also  mortally  wounded,  and  I had  only  to 
follow  and  finish  her ; but  I foolishly  allowed 
her  to  escape,  while  I amused  myself  with 
the  first,  which  kept  walking  backwards, 
and  standing  by  every  tree  she  passed. 
Two  more  shots  finished  her ; on  receiving 
them  she  tossed  her  trunk  up  and  down 
two  or  three  times,  and,  falling  on  her  broad- 
side against  a thorny  tree,  which  yielded 
like  grass  before  her  enormous  weight,  she 
uttered  a deep  hoarse  groan  and  expired. 
This  was  a very  handsome  old  cow  elephant, 
and  was  decidedly  the  best  in  the  troop. 
She  was  in  excellent  condition,  and  carried 
a pair  of  long  and  pei'fect  tusks.  I was  in 
high  spirits  at  my  success,  and  felt  so  per- 


HUNTING  ADVENTURES  IN  SOUTH  AFRICA.  203 


fectly  satisfied  with  having  killed  one,  that, 
although  it  was  still  early  in  the  day,  and 
my  horses  were  fresh,  I allowed  the  troop 
of  five  bulls  to  remain  unmolested,  foolishly 
trusting  to  fall  in  with  them  next  day. 
How  little  did  I then  know  of  the  habits 
of  elephants,  or  the  rules  to  be  adopted  in 
hunting  them,  or  deem  it  probable  that  I 
should  never  see  them  more. 

Having  knee-haltered  our  horses,  we  set 
to  work  with  our  knives  and  assagais  to 
prepare  the  skull  for  the  hatchet,  in  order 
to  cut  out  the  tusks,  nearly  half  the  length 
of  which,  I may  mention,  is  embedded  in 
bone  sockets  in  the  fore  part  of  the  skull. 
To  cut  out  the  tusks  of  a cow  elephant  re- 
quires barely  one-fifth  of  the  labor  requisite 
to  cut  out  those  of  a bull ; and  when  the 
sun  went  down  we  had  managed  by  our 
combined  efibrts  to  cut  out  one  of  the  tusks 
of  my  first  elephant,  with  which  we  trium- 
phantly returned,  having  left  the  guides  in 
charge  of  the  carcass,  where  they  volun- 
teered to  take  up  their  quarters  for  the 
night. 


It5b6ii)ii|i*es  of  flje  0^ih)i|cl(3 

The  Calmucks,  a principal  branch  of  the 
great  Mongol  stock,  are  more  widely  dis- 
persed over  the  globe  than  anj'  other,  even 
the  Arabs  are  not  excepted.  Tribes  of  this 
people  occur  over  all  the  countries  of  Upper 
Asia,  between  38°  and  52°  north  latitude, 
and  from  the  most  northern  bend  of  the 
Hoang-ho  to  the  banks  of  the  Volga.  They 
are  the  “ Hippophagi,”  or  eaters  of  horse- 
flesh, of  Pliny,  and  the  more  ancient  histo- 
rians. They  have  very  large  settlements 
in  the  neighborhood  of  Taganrok,  and  there 
Dr.  Clarke  had  an  opportunity  of  studying 
their  habits  and  appearance.  Calmuck 
men  and  women  were  continually  galloping 
their  horses  through  the  streets  of  the  town, 
or  lounging  in  the  public  places. 

(204)  9* 


A CALMUCK  COURTSHIP 


18 


■»r.' 


- >'  ■ 


m 


r'  A 


•-.<liil®T.'i-B:''5  yr>'jic  -j:0  ' ' H 

;v^..  '■  -m.  ^.:>:  ■-..  W 


m;/f^  isii.Vf  .th  a^eOQw  adT*^! 


f«>  « bn£  ,D 

’T  ‘ 1;' 0^ 'Jaifi' xf  &ii'Tieu-ii 


■ ' tnp  tf-jpr  6j|t  -icjli  Aif  Me  't^v^-woif  ,9o»i  ',a 
’ *■-'.  Mi'  iiiww.  5rrtidi?jii.pD  iai«j£»(J  ''■ 

- '.  • ■-  'J  ■•  ■ •-V.-+  '"iv^*'".*'^  *•'  'j.-n*  r''-^ 


>*v  ^ Kps  ^dpcoffi'iii^ei-l-ug  A|  ^ 


■ifO  fr  In  - 


tjjjif'ioum  ' 


cTy^aq  ■*^‘*  M 3i  3 Cci^ieq'  a 


J-:  '.V:.'^'  -a 


CALMUCK  COURTSHIP. 


207 


The  women,  he  says,  ride  better  than  the 
men,  and  a male  Calmuek  on  horseback 
looks  as  if  he  was  intoxicated,  and  likely  to 
fall  off  every  instant,  though  he  never  loses 
his  seat ; but  the  women  sit  with  much  ease, 
and  ride  with  extraordinary  skill.  We  shall 
see,  however,  by  and  by,  that  the  men  are 
better  equestrians  than  the  traveller  sujj- 
posed.  The  ceremony  of  marriage  among 
the  Calmucks  is  performed  on  • horseback. 
A gild  is  first  mounted  and  rides  off  at  full 
speed.  Her  lover  pursues,  and  if  he  over- 
take her  she  becomes  his  wife  on  the  spot, 
and  then  returiis  with  him  to  his  tent.  But 
it  sometimes  happens  that  the  woman  does 
not  wish  to  marry  the  person  by  whom  she 
is  pursued,  in  which  case  she  will  not  suffer 
him  to  overtake  her ; and  Dr.  Clarke  was 
assured  that  no  instance  occurs  of  a Cal- 
muck  girl  being  thus  caught  unless  she  had 
a partiality  for  her  pursuer.  If  she  dis- 
likes him  she  rides,  in  English  sporting 
phrase,  “neck  or  nothing,”  until  she  has 
completely  escaped,  or  until  the  pursuer’s 
horse  is  tired  out,  leaving  her  at  liberty  to 


208  CUSTOMS  OP  THE  CALMUCKS. 

return,  to  be  afterwards  chased  by  some 
more  favored  admirer. 

Of  all  the  inhabitants  of  the  Russian 
empire,  the  Calmucks  are  the  most  distin- 
guished by  peculiarity  of  features  and  man- 
ners. In  their  personal  appearance  they 
are  athletic,  and  very  forbidding.  Their 
hair  is  coarse  and  black,  their  language 
harsh  and  guttural.  The  Cossacks  alone 
esteem,  ,and  intermarry  with  them;  and 
these  unions  sometimes  produce  women  of 
very  great  beauty,  although  nothing  is  more 
hideous  than  a Calmuck.  High,  prominent, 
broad  cheek  bones,  widely  separated  from 
each  other ; a flat  and  broad  nose ; coarse, 
greasy,  jet  black  hair;  scarcely  any  eye- 
brows ; and  enormous  prominent  ears,  con- 
stitute no  very  inviting  portrait.  Their 
persons  are  indescribably  filthy,  and  their 
habits  loathsome.  They  eat  raw  horseflesh, 
and  may  be  seen  tearing  it  like  wild  beasts 
from  large  bones  which  they  hold  in  their 
hands.  Sometimes  they  cook  their  meat, 
but  not  in  a manner  that  would  make  it 
much  more  inviting  to  an  English  stomach. 


A COSSACK. 


18* 


MANUFACTURE  OF  LIQUOR. 


211 


They  cut  the  muscular  parts  into  steaks 
which  they  place  under  their  saddles,  and 
after  they  have  galloped  thirty  or  forty 
miles,  they  find  the  meat  tender  and  pala- 
table. This  is  a common  practice  with 
them  on  their  journeys.  The  author  of  Hu- 
dibras  alludes  to  this  culinary  process  in 
terms  more  pointed  than  decorous. 

Every  body  has  heard  of  the  fermented 
liquor  called  koumiss,  which  the  Calmucks, 
the  Tartars,  &c.,  manufacture  from  the 
milk  of  the  mare.  It  is  produced  by  com- 
bining with  six  of  warm  milk,  one  part  of 
warm  water,  and  a very  little  sour  milk  or 
old  koumiss.  The  vessel  is  then  covered 
with  a thick  cloth  and  left  in  a moderately 
warm  place  for  twenty-four  hours,  until  the 
whole  mass  becomes  sour.  After  this  it  is 
twice  beaten  with  a stick  in  the  shape  of  a 
churn  staff,  so  as  perfectly  to  mix  together 
the  thick  parts  and  the  thin.  This  being 
done  the  process  is  complete,  and  the  liquor 
is  ready  for  drinking. 

A subsequent  process  of  distillation  ob- 
tains from  this  koumiss  an  ardent  spirit 


212 


CUSTOMS  OF  THE  CALMUCKS. 


called  rack  or  racky,  a name  identical  with 
that  given  to  the  spirit  manufactured  in  tlie 
East  Indies.  Dr.  Clarke  found  some  women 
in  the  act  of  making  it.  “ The  still,”  he 
says,  “ was  composed  of  mud  or  very  close 
clay.  For  a neck  of  the  retort  a cane  w’as 
used ; and  the  receiver  was  entirely  covered 
by  a coating  of  w'et  clay.  The  brandy  had 
passed  over.  The  woman  who  had  the 
management  of  the  distillery,  wishing  to 
give  us  a small  taste  of  the  spirit,  thrust  a 
stick  with  a small  tuft  of  camel’s  hair  into 
the  receiver,  dropped  a portion  of  it  on  the 
retort,  and  waving  the  instrument  above 
her  head,  scattered  the  remaining  liquor  in 
the  air. 

“ I asked  the  meaning  of  this  ceremony, 
and  was  told  it  was  a religious  custom  to 
give  always  the  first  of  the  brandy  Avhich 
they  drew  from  the  receiver  to  their  god. 
The  stick  was  then  plunged  into  the  liquor 
a second  time,  when  more  brandy  adhering 
to  the  camel’s  hair,  she  squeezed  it  into  the 
palm  of  her  dirty  hand,  and  having  tasted 
the  liquor,  presented  it  to  our  lips.”  . 


CALMUCK  HORSEMANSHIP. 


213 


A recent  traveller,  Madame  de  Hell,  gives 
a more  pleasing  picture  of  the  Calmucks, 
whom  she  saw  under  more  favorable  circum- 
stances, being  the  guest  of  one  of  their 
princes.  The  following  is  her  account  of  an 
equestrian  entertainment  she  witnessed : 

“ The  moment  we  were  perceived,  five  or 
six  mounted  men,  armed  with  long  lassoos 
(strong  flexible  thongs  with  running  nooses) 
rushed  into  the  middle  of  the  taboon  (herd 
of  half  wild  horses,)  keeping  their  eyes  con- 
stantly fixed  on  the  young  prince,  who  was 
to  point  out  the  animal  they  should  seize. 
The  signal  being  given,  they  instantly  gal- 
loped forward  and  noosed  a young  horse 
with  a long  dishevelled  mane,  whose  dilated 
eyes  and  smoking  nostrils  betokened  inex- 
pressible terror. 

“A  light  clad  Calmuck,  who  followed 
them  on  foot,  immediately  sprang  upon  the 
stallion,  cut  the  thongs  that  were  throttling 
him,  and  engaged  with  him  in  an  incredible 
contest  of  daring  and  agility.  It  would  be 
impossible,  I think,  for  any  spectacle  more 
vividly  to  affect  the  mind  than  that  which 


214 


CUSTOMS  OF  THE  CALMUCKS. 


now  met  our  eyes.  Sometimes  the  rider 
and  bis  horse  rolled  together  on  the  grass ; 
sometimes  they  shot  through  the  air  with 
the  speed  of  an  arrow,  and  then  stopped 
abruptly,  as  if  a wall  had  all  at  once  risen 
up  before  them.  On  a sudden  the  furious 
animal  would  crawl  on  its  belly,  or  rear  in 
a manner  that  made  us  shriek  with  terror, 
then  plunging  forward  again  in  his  mad 
gallop,  he  would  dash  through  the  taboon, 
and  endeavor  in  every  possible  way  to  shake 
off  his  novel  burden. 

“ But  this  exercise,  violent  and  dangerous 
as  it  appeared  to  us,  seemed  but  sport  to 
the  Calmuck,  whose  body  followed  all  the 
movements  of  the  animal  with  so  much 
suppleness,  that  one  would  have  fancied  that 
the  same  spirit  animated  both  bodies.  The 
sweat  poured  in  foaming  streams  from  the 
stallion’s  flanks,  and  he  trembled  in  every 
limb.  As  for  the  rider,  his  coolness  would 
have  put  to  shame  the  most  accomplished 
horsemen  in  Europe.  In  the  most  critical 
moments  he  still  found  himself  at  liberty 
to  wave  his  arms  in  token  of  triumph ; and 


THRILLING  FEAT  OP  HORSEMANSHIP.  215 

in  spite  of  the  indomitable  humor  of  his 
steed,  he  had  sufficient  command  over  it  to 
keep  it  almost  within  the  circle  of  our 
vision.  At  a signal  from  the  prince,  two 
horsemen,  who  kept  as  close  to  the  daring 
centaur  as  possible,  seized  him  with  amaz- 
ing quickness,  and  galloped  away  with  him, 
before  we  had  time  to  comprehend  this  new 
manoeuvre.  The  horse,  for  a moment,  stupi- 
fied,  soon  made  off  at  full  speed,  and  was 
lost  in  the  midst  of  the  herd.  These  per- 
formances were  repeated  several  times  with- 
out a single  rider  suffering  himself  to  be 
thrown. 

“ But  what  was  our  amazement  when  we 
saw  a boy  of  ten  years  come  forward  to  un- 
dertake the  same  exploit!  They  selected 
for  him  a young  white  stallion  of  great  size, 
whose  fiery  bounds  and  desperate  efforts  to 
break  his  bonds,  indicated  a most  violent 
temper. 

“ I will  not  attempt  to  depict  our  intense 
emotions  during  this  new  conflict.  This 
child,  who,  like  other  riders,  had  only  the 
horse’s  mane  to  cling  to,  afforded  an  ex- 


216 


CUSTOMS  OF  THE  CALMUCKS. 


ample  of  the  power  of  reasoning  over  in- 
stinct and  brute  force.  For  some  minutes 
he  maintained  his  difficult  position  with  he- 
roic intrepidity.  At  last  to  our  great  relief, 
a horseman  rode  up  to  him,  caught  him  up 
in  his  outstretched  arm,  and  threw  him  on 
the  croup  behind  him.” 


y Y-'  •-  - ^ - I-.,,- 

. • , ^*:  « • • .:  . y”.  ■ > 

(.  ■ ' ^ • 

^ . ■ ’■■  ' V .;....  V ' 


foe  JLogsfoK)’^ 

Among  the  many  hunters  and  rangers, 
who  figured  in  the  early  history  of  Ken- 
tucky, Joe  Logston,  or  “ Big  Joe  Logston,” 
as  he  was  sometimes  called,  on  account  of 
his  great  size,  was  conspicuous  for  daring 
and  success.  As  a hunter  he  had  few  su- 
periors— and  as  a warrior,  after  the  Indian 
fashion,  a series  of  exploits  secured  him 
reputation. 

(219) 


ft 


220 


JOE  logston’s  fight. 


The  'following  is  an  account  of  one  of  his  ^ 
most  desperate  fights.  He  had  stopped  for 
awhile  at  one  of  the  stations  in  Kentucky ; 
but  becoming  tired  of  such  a confined  life, 
he  resolved  to  take  to  the  woods,  although 
he  knew  the  hostile  Indians  were  thick  in 
the  neighborhood. 

Riding  along  a path  which  led  to  a fort, 
he  came  to  a fine  vine  of  grapes.  He  laid 
his  gun  across  the  pommel  of  his  saddle, 
set  his  hat  on  it,  and  filled  it  with  grapes. 
He  turned  into  the  path,  and  rode  carelessly 
along,  eating  his  grapes ; and  the  first  inti- 
mation he  had  of  danger,  was  the  crack  of 
two  rifles,  one  from  each  side  of  the  road. 
One  of  the  balls  passed  through  the  paps 
of  his  breast,  which,  for  a male,  were  re- 
markably prominent,  almost  as  much  so  as 
those  of  many  nurses.  The  ball  just  grazed 
the  skin  between  the  paps,  but  did  not  in- 
j lire  the  breast-bone.  The  other  ball  struck 
his  horse  behind  the  saddle,  and  he 
sunk  in  his  tracks.  Thus  was  Joe  eased 
off  his  horse  in  a manner  more  rare  than 
welcome.  Still  he  was  on  his  feet  in  an  in- 


JOE  logston’s  fight. 


221 


stant,  with  his  rifle  in  his  hands,  and  might 
have  taken  to  his  heels  ; and  I will  venture 
the  opinion  that  no  Indian  could  have 
caught  him.  That,  he  said,  was  not  his 
sort.  He  had  never  left  a battle-ground 
without  leaving  his  mark,  and  he  had  re- 
solved that  that  should  not  be  the  first. 

The  moment  the  guns  were  fired,  one 
very  athletic  Indian  sprang  towards  him 
with  tomahawk  in  hand.  His  eye  was  on 
him,  and  his  gun  to  his  eye,  ready,  as  soon 
as  he  approached  near  enough  to  make  a 
sure  shot,  to  let  him  have  it.  As  soon  as 
the  Indian  discovered  this,  he  jumped  be- 
hind two  pretty  large  saplings,  some  small 
distance  apart,  neither  of  which  was  large 
enough  to  cover  his  body,  and,  to  save  him- 
self as  well  as  he  could,  he  kept  springing 
from  one  to  the  other. 

Joe,  knowing  he  had  two  enemies  on  the 
ground,  kept  a look-out  for  the  other  by  a 
quick  glance  of  the  eye.  He  presently  dis- 
covered him  behind  a tree  loading  his  gun. 
The  tree  was  not  quite  large  enough  to  hide 

him.  When  in  the  act  of  pushing  down  his 

19* 


222 


JOE  LOG  sign’s  fight. 


bullet,  he  exposed  pretty  fairly  his  hips. 
Joe,  in  the  twinkling  of  an  eye,  wheeled, 
and  let  him  have  his  load  in  the  part  exposed. 
The  big  Indian  then  with  a mighty  “Fghl” 
rushed  towards  him  with  his  raised  toma- 
hawk. Here  were  two  warriors  met,  each 
determined  to  conquer  or  die — each  the  Go- 
liath of  his  nation.  The  Indian  had  rather 
the  advantage  in  size  of  frame,  but  Joe  in 
weight  and  muscular  strength.  The  Indian 
made  a halt  at  the  distance  of  fifteen  or 
twenty  feet,  and  threw  his  tomahawk  with 
all  his  force,  but  Joe  had  his  eye  on  him 
and  dodged  it.  It  flew  quite  out  of  the 
reach  of  either  of  them.  Joe  then  clubbed 
his  gun  and  made  at  the  Indian,  thinking 
to  knock  him  down.  The.  Indian  sprang 
into  some  brush  or  saplings,  to  avoid  his 
blows.  The  Indian  depended  entirely  on 
dodging,  with  the  help  of  the  saplings.  At 
length,  Joe  thinking  he  had  a pretty  fair 
chance,  made  a side  blow  with  such  force, 
that,  missing  the  dodging  Indian,  the  gun, 
now  reduced  to  the  naked  barrel,  was  drawn 
quite  out  of  his  hands,  and  flew  quite  out 


JOE  LOG  sign’s  fight. 


223 


of  his  reach.  The  Indian  now  gave  another 
exulting  “Ugh!”  and  sprang  upon  him 
with  all  the  savage  fury  he  was  master  of. 
Neither  of  them  had  a weapon  in  his  hands, 
and  the  Indian,  seeing  Logston  bleeding 
freely,  thought  he  could  throw  him  down 
and  despatch  him. 

In  this  he  was  mistaken.  They  seized 
each  other,  and  a desperate  scuffle  ensued. 
Joe  could  throw  him  down,  but  could  not  hold 
him  there.  The  Indian  being  naked,  with 
his  hide  oiled,  had  greatly  the  advantage  in 
a ground  scuffle,  and  would  still  slip  out  of 
Joe’s  grasp  and  rise.  After  throwing  him 
five  or  six  times,  Joe  found,  that  between 
loss  of  blood  and  violent  exertions,  his  wind 
was  leaving  him,  and  that  he  must  change 
his  mode  of  warfare  or  lose  his  scalp,  which 
he  was  not  yet  willing  to  spare.  He  threw 
the  Indian  again,  and  without  attempting 
to  hold  him,  jumped  from  him,  and  as  he 
rose,  aimed  a fist  blow  at  his  head,  which 
caused  him  to  fall  back,  and  as  he  would 
rise,  Joe  gave  him  several  blows  in  succes- 
sion, the  Indian  rising  slower  each  time. 


224 


JOE  logston’s  fight. 


He  at  last  succeeded  in  giving  him  a pretty 
fair  blow  in  the  burr  of  the  ear,  with  all  his 
force,  and  he  fell,  as  Joe  thought,  pretty 
near  dead.  Joe  jumped  on  him,  and  think- 
ing he  could  despatch  him  by  choking, 
grasped  his  neck  with  his  left  hand,  keep- 
ing his  right  one  free  for  contingencies.  Joe 
soon  found  the  Indian  was  not  so  dead  as 
he  thought,  and  that  he  was  making  some 
use  of  his  right  arm,  which  lay  across  his 
body,  and,  on  casting  his  eyes  down,  dis- 
covered the  Indian  was  making  an  effort  to 
unsheath  a knife  that  was  hanging  at  his 
belt.  The  knife  was  short,  and  so  sunk  in 
the  sheath  that  it  was  necessary  to  force  it 
up  by  pressing  against  the  point.  This  the 
Indian  was  trying  to  effect,  and  with  good 
success.  Joe  kept  his  eye  on  it,  and  let  the 
Indian  work  the  handle  out,  when  he  sud- 
denly grabbed  it,  jerked  it  out  of  the  sheath, 
and  sunk  it  up  to  the  handle  in  the  Indian’s 
breast,  who  gave  a death  groan  and  expired. 

Joe  now  thought  of  the  other  Indian,  and 
not  knowing  how  far  he  had  succeeded  in 
killing  or  crippling  him,  sprang  to  his  feet. 


JOE  logston’s  fight. 


225 


He  found  the  crippled  Indian  had  crawled 
some  distance  towards  them,  and  had  placed 
his  broken  back  against  a log,  and  was  try- 
ing to  raise  his  gun  to  shoot  him,  but  in  at- 
tempting to  do  which  he  would  fall  forward, 
and  had  to  push  against  his  gun  to  raise 
himself  again. 

Joe,  seeing  that  he  was  safe,  concluded 
he  had  fought  long  enough  for  healthy 
exercise  that  day,  and  not  liking  to  be 
killed  by  a crippled  Indian,  he  made  for  the 
fort.  He  got  in  about  nightfall,  and  a hard 
looking  case  he  was — blood  and  dirt  from 
the  crown  of  his  head  to  the  sole  of  his  foot, 
no  horse,  no  hat,  no  gun — with  an  account 
of  the  battle  that  some  of  his  comrades 
could  scarce  believe  to  be  much  else  than 
one  of  his  stories  in  which  he  would  some- 
times indulge.  He  told  them  to  go  and 
judge  for  themselves.  Next  morning  a com- 
pany was  made  up  to  go  to  Joe’s  battle- 
ground. When  they  approached  it,  Joe’s 
accusers  became  more  confirmed,  as  there 
was  no  appearance  of  dead  Indians,  and 
nothing  Joe  had  talked  of  but  the  dead 

p 


226 


JOE  logston’s  fight. 


horse.  They,  however,  found  a trail,  as  if 
something  had  been  dragged  away.  On 
pursuing  it  they  found  the  big  Indian,  at  a 
little  distance,  beside  a log,  covered  up  with 
leaves.  Still  pursuing  the  trail,  some  hun- 
dred yards  further,  they  found  the  broken- 
backed  Indian,  lying  on  his  back,  with  his 
own  knife  sticking  up  to  the  hilt  in  his  body, 
just  below  the  breast  bone,  evidently  to 
show  that  he  had  killed  himself,  and  that 
he  had  not  come  to  his  end  by  the  hand  of 
an  enemy. 

They  had  a long  search  before  they  found 
the  knife  with  which  Joe  killed  the  big  In- 
dian. They  at  last  found  it  forced  down 
into  the  ground  below  the  surface,  appa- 
rently by  the  weight  of  a person’s  heel. 
This  had  been  done  by  the  crippled  Indian. 
The  great  efforts  he  must  have  made,  alone, 
in  that  condition,  show,  among  thousands 
of  other  instances,  what  Indians  are  capable 
of  under  the  greatest  extremities. 


^ SKzzilj 

[from  kelly’s  EXCURSIOK  to  CALIFORNIA.] 

I NOW  took  a long  farewell  of  the  horses, 
and  turned  northward,  selecting  a line  close 
in  by  the  base  of  the  hills,  going  along  at 
an  improved  pace,  with  a view  of  reaching 
the  trading-post  the  same  night ; but  halt- 
ing in  a gully  to  look  for  water,  I found  a 
little  pool,  evidently  scratched  out  by  a 
bear,  as  there  Avere  foot-prints  and  claw- 
marks  about  it ; and  I was  aware  instinct 
prompts  that  brute  where  water  is  nearest 
the  surface,  when  he  scratches  until  he 
comes  to  it.  This  was  one  of  very  large 
size,  the  foot-mark  behind  the  toes  being 
full  nine  inches;  and  although  I had  my 
misgivings  about  the  prudence  of  a tde-a- 
tete  with  a great  grizzly  bear,  still  the  “ bet- 
ter part  of  valor”  was  overcome,  as  it  often 

20  (229) 


230 


ADVENTCEE  WITH  A BEAR. 


is,  by  the  anticipated  honor  and  glory  of  a 
single  combat,  and  conquest  of  such  a fero- 
cious beast,  I was  well  armed,  too,  with 
my  favorite  rifle,  a Colt’s  revolver,  that 
never  disappointed  me,  and  a nondescript 
weapon,  a sort  of  cross  between  a claymore 
and  a bowie-knife ; so,  after  capping  afresh, 
hanging  the  bridle  on  the  horn  of  the  sad- 
dle, and,  staking  my  mule,  I followed  the 
trail  up  a gully,  and  much  sooner  than  1 
expected  came  within  view  and  good  shoot- 
ing distance  of  Bruin,  who  was  seated  erect, 
with  his  side  toward  me,  in  front  of  a man- 
zanita  bush,  making  a repast  on  his  favorite 
berry. 

The  sharp  click,  of  the  cock  causing  him 
to  turn  quickly  round,  left  little  time  for 
deliberation ; so,  taking  a ready  good  aim 
at  the  region  of  the  heart,  I let  drive,  the 
ball,  as  I subsequently  found,  glancing 
along  the  ribs,  entering  the  armpit,  and 
shattering  smartly  some  of  the  shoulder 
bones.  I exulted  as  I saw  him  stagger 
and  come  to  his  side ; the  next  glance,  how- 
ever, revealed  him,  to  my  dismay,  on  all 


ADVENTURE  WITH  A BEAR, 


231 


fours,  in  direct  pursuit,  but  going  lame ; so 
I bolted  for  tbe  mule,  sadly  encumbered 
with  a huge  pair  of  Mexican  spurs,  the  ner- 
vous noise  of  the  crushing  brush  close  in 
my  rear  convinced  me  that  he  was  fast 
gaining  on  me ; I therefore  dropped  my 
rifle,  putting  on  fresh  steam,  and  reaching 
the  rope,  pulled  up  the  picket-pin,  and 
springing  into  the  saddle  with  merely  a hold 
of  the  lariat,  plunged  the  spurs  into  the 
mule,  which,  much  to  my  affright  produced 
a kick  and  a retrograde  movement ; but  in 
the  exertion  having  got  a glimpse  of  my 
pursuer,  uttering  a snort  of  terror,  he  went 
off  at  a pace  I did  not  think  him  capable 
of,  soon  widening  the  distance  between  us 
and  the  bear;  but  having  no  means  of 
guiding  his  motions,  he  brought  me  violently 
in  contact  with  the  arm  of  a tree,  which  un- 
horsed and  stunned  me  exceedingly.  Scram- 
bling to  my  feet  as  well  as  I could,  I saw 
my  relentless  enemy  close  at  hand,  leaving 
me  the  only  alternative  of  ascending  a tree ; 
but,  in  my  hurried  and  nervous  efibrts,  1 
had  scarcely  my  feet  above  his  reach,  when 


232 


ADVENTURE  WITH  A BEAR. 


he  was  right  under,  evidently  enfeebled  by 
the  loss  of  blood,  as  the  exertion  made  it 
well  out  copiously. 

After  a moment’s  pause,  and  a fierce 
glare  upwards  from  his  blood-shot  eyes,  he 
clasped  the  trunk ; but  I saw  his  endeavors 
to  climb  were  crippled  by  the  wounded 
shoulder.  However,  by  the  aid  of  his  jaws, 
he  just  succeeded  in  reaching  the  first 
branch  with  his  sound  arm,  and  was  work- 
ing convulsively  to  bring  up  the  body,  when, 
with  a well-directed  blow  from  my  cutlass, 
I completely  severed  the  tendons  of  the  foot, 
and  he  instantly  fell  with  a dreadful  souse 
and  horrific  growl,  the  blood  spouting  up  as 
if  impelled  from  a jet ; he  rose  again  some- 
what tardily,  and  limping  round  the  tree 
with  U2iturned  eyes,  kept  tearing  off  the 
bark  with  his  tusks.  However,  watching 
my  opportunity,  and  leaning  downward,  I 
sent  a ball  from  my  revolver  with  such  good 

effect  immediatelv  behind  the  head,  that  he 

•/  ' 

dropjied ; and  my  nerves  being  rather  more 
composed,  I leisurely  distributed  the  remain- 
ing five  balls  in  his  body. 


ADVENTURE  WITH  A BEAR. 


233 


By  this  time  I saw  the  muscular  system 
totally  relaxed,  so  I descended  with  confi- 
dence, and  found  him  quite  dead,  and  my- 
self not  a little  enervated  with  the  excite- 
ment and  the  effects  of  my  wound,  which 
bled  profusely  from  the  temple ; so  much 
so,  that  I thought  an  artery  was  ruptured. 
I bound  up  my  head  as  well  as  I could, 
loaded  my  revolver  anew,  and  returned  for 
my  rifle ; but  as  evening  was  approaching, 
and  my  mule  gone,  I had  little  time  to  sur- 
vey the  dimensions  of  my  fallen  foe,  and  no 
means  of  packing  much  of  his  flesh.  I 
therefore  hacked  off  a few  steaks  from  his 
thigh,  and  hewing  off  one  of  his  hind  feet 
as  a sure  trophy  of  victory,  I set  out  toward 
the  trading-post,  which  I reached  about 
midnight,  my  friend  and  my  truant  mule 
being  there  before  me,  but  no  horses. 

I exhibited  the  foot  of  my  fallen  foe  in 
great  triumph,  and  described  the  conflict 
with  due  emphasis  and  effect  to  the  com- 
pany, who  arose  to  listen ; after  which  I 
made  a transfer  of  the  flesh  to  the  traders, 
on  condition  that  there  was  not  to  be  any 

20* 


234 


ADVENTURE  WITH  A BEAR. 


charge  for  the  hotel  or  the  use  of  the  mule. 
There  was  an  old  experienced  French  trap- 
per belonged  to  the  party,  who,  judging 
from  the  size  of  the  foot,  set  down  the  weight 
of  the  bear  at  fifteen  hundred  pounds,  which, 
he  said,  they  frequently  overrun ; he  him- 
self, as  well  as  Colonel  Fremont’s  exploring 
party,  having  killed  several  that  came  to 
two  thousand  pounds. 

He  advised  me,  should  I again  be  pursued 
by  a bear,  and  have  no  other  means  of  es- 
cape, to  ascend  a small  girthed  tree,  which 
they  cannot  get  up,  for,  not  having  any 
central  joint  in  the  fore-legs,  they  cannot 
climb  any  with  a branchless  stem  that  does 
not  fully  fill  their  embrace;  and  in  the 
event  of  not  being  able  to  accomplish  the 
ascent  before  my  pursuer  overtook  me,  to 
place  my  back  against  it,  when,  if  it  and  I 
did  not  constitute  a bulk  capable  of  filling 
his  hug,  I might  have  time,  to  rip  out  his 
entrails  before  he  could  kill  me,  being  in 
a favorable  posture  for  the  operation.  They 
do  not  generally  use  their  mouth  in  the  de- 
structiori  of  their  victims,  but,  hugging  them 


ADVENTURE  WITH  A BEAR. 


235 


closely,  lift  one  of  the  hind  feet,  which  are 
armed  with  tremendous  claws,  and  tear  out 
the  bowels. 

The  Frenchman’s  advice  reads  rationally 
enough,  and  is  a feasible  theory  on  the  art 
of  evading  unbearable  compression;  but, 
unfortunately,  in  the  haunts  of  that  animal 
those  slim  juvenile  saplings  are  rarely  met 
with,  and  a person  closely  confronted  with 
such  a grizzly  vis-a-vis  is  not  exactly  in  a 
tone  of  nerve  for  surgical  operations. 


It  §p^k\\ 

One  day  Don  Philippe  insisted  upon  tak- 
ing us  to  witness  a bull  fight,  which  was 
about  to  take  place,  and  which  it  was  re- 
ported, the  queen  herself  was  expected  to 
attend.  This  was  a spectacle  we  had  never 
yet  beheld,  and  our  curiosity  was  therefore 
aroused  to  the  highest  possible  pitch  of  ex- 
citement. Visions  of  blood  floated  before 
our  fancy,  and  flashing  steel  glanced  across 
our  sight.  Anxiety  stood  on  tip-toe,  and 
the  moments  flew  slowly  by,  until  the 
wished-for  hour  arrived.  We  left  the  busi- 
ness of  securing  seats  in  the  arena  to  Phi- 
lippe, who,  by  early  application,  succeeded 
in  obtaining  for  us  as  eligible  positions  for 
witnessing  the  spectacle  as  we  could  rea- 
sonably desire. 

(236) 


- A.\  ■'  '.iA’''^**^'^ 


> ' , r-.  f 


p ' 


■ .•y>i  •.'/'•:■ 

■ ■ . ■: 

■ ■ )•  ■ (jVi  ^ . 

.TO j.rrrff’  mL : x ^t"u  .•.■■■'"  '■’ ' 


'-■  v>^ . - <j3.  >■  nfiyii  luo'  ■ 


■'  ’til  ' r.i.»;p;# : I '<>  /tKia'ift  oa- 

,'^ri)  lo'' a. 

^ .-p  . J>'i yi,- ■ . .-. bqcaxfii  ■ 

■'::l...,  .ftt-’ ''^V  ’y-  •■,.>  .//ru 

iMn  i3d,to3^, ' 

'V,*-.u/;'’  >.:4y i, -wu; , 'isar- * mnoi^im 

’r::-  1 '■  iyyic^^ltiJ  iva: iS  tx.u;  ,‘t  .i.r  y '/ . ■ ■ 

■•;  i,'j  >.  ■ •'  . •'  '.*■•. 

...  ■ ■ o^iy  y-ya':  '•> 

--o^'  h:4ujf:pv!‘ir^^  , f liii- ,;eacjTC 

'■  ' ",y!  ’’  xyi  §)(fe^^  j ':'  ■ ■ > i'<>;dR’^»!i.,£jiid;  • y 

yii.jlid'iy  ;:.;rni5Ja 

>tS>- ■'i®.  FilfB 


yp’.Iam. -.^v  ficoisi 

■/  fjai  rHkoif 


I 


.4^ 


V 


A SPANISH  BULL  FIGHT.  239 

The  critical  moment  was  now  at  hand, 
our  hearts  almost  leaped  from  our  mouths, 
so  deeply  were  we  excited  in  contemplation 
of  the  sanguinary  event.  At  length  the 
trumpets  sounded,  and  forthwith  entered, 
in  martial  array,  the  entire  body  of  comba- 
tants, gayly  dressed,  and  presenting  to- 
gether a most  striking  and  brilliant  effect. 
Marching  to  the  opposite  side  of  the  ring, 
they  respectfully  bowed  to  the  appointed 
authorities,  and  then  took  their  places  in 
complete  readiness  for  action. 

At  a given  signal,  a small  iron  gate  was 
suddenly  opened,  and  in  an  instant  a fu- 
rious bull  bounded  frantically  into  the 
arena ; and  then,  as  if  pretrified  with  asto- 
nishment at  the  wonderful  scene  around 
him,  he  stood  motionless  for  a few  seconds, 
staring  wildly  at  the  the  immense  assembly, 
and  pawing  vehemently  the  ground  beneath 
his  feet.  It  was  a solemn  and  critical  mo- 
ment, and  I can  truly  say  I never  before 
experienced  such  an  intense  degree  of  cu- 
riosity and  interest.  My  feelings  were 
wound  up  to  the  highest  pitch  of  excitement. 


\ 


240 


A SPANISH  BULL  FIGHT. 


and  I can  scarcely  believe  that  even  that 
terrible  human  tragedy,  a bloody  gladiatorial 
scene,  could  have  affected  me  more  deeply. 
The  compressed  fury  of  the  bull  lasted  but 
an  instant ; suddenly  his  glaring  eye 
caught  sight  of  a red  flag,  which  one  of  the 
chulos,  or  foot  combatants,  had  waved  before 
him,  and  immediately  he  rushed  after  his 
nimble  adversary,  who  evaded  his  pursuit 
by  jumping  skilfully  over  the  lower  en- 
closure of  the  ring.  The  herculean  animal, 
thus  balked  in  his  rage,  next  plunged  des- 
perately toward  one  of  the  picadores,  or 
mounted  horsemen,  who  calmly  and  fear- 
lessly awaited  his  approach,  and  then  turned 
oif  his  attack  by  the  masterly  management 
of  his  long  and  steel-capped  pike.  Thwarted 
once  more  in  his  purpose,  he  became  still 
more  frantic  than  before,  while  his  low  and 
suppressed  roar,  expressive  of  the  concen- 
trated passion  and  rage  which  burned  within 
him,  sounded  like  distant  thunder  to  my 
ears.  Half  closing  his  eyes,  and  lowering 
his  formidable  horns,  he  darted  again  at 
one  of  the  picadores,  and  with  such  tremen- 


A SPANISH  BULL  FIGHT. 


241 


dous  power,  that  he  completely  unhorsed 
him.  Then  shouts  of  applause  from  the 
spectators  filled  the  arena:  “Bravo  toro!” 
“ Vivatoro!”  and  other  exclamations  of  en- 
couragement for  the  bull  broke  from  every 
mouth. 

The  picador  lost  no  time  in  springing  to 
his  feet  and  regaining  his  horse,  which, 
however,  could  scarcely  stand,  so  weak  was 
the  poor  creature  from  the  stream  of  blood 
issuing  from  the  deep  wound  in  his  breast. 
As  soon  as  the  enraged  bull,  whose  attention 
had  been  purposely  withdrawn  by  the  chulos, 
beheld  his  former  adversary  now  crimsoned 
with  gore,  he  rushed  at  him  with  the  most 
terrific  fury,  and,  thrusting  his  horns  sa- 
vagely into  the  lower  parts  of  the  tottering 
animal,  he  almost  raised  him  from  his  feet, 
and  so  lacerated  and  tore  open  his  abdomen, 
that  his  bowels  gushed  out  upon  the  ground. 
Unable  any  longer  to  sustain  himself,  the 
pitiable  animal  fell  down  in  the  awful  ago- 
nies of  death,  and  in  a few  moments  expired. 
Two  other  horses  shortly  shared  the  same* 
miserable  fate,  and  their  mangled  bodies 
« 21 


242 


A SPANISH  BULL  FIGHT. 


were  lying  covered  with  blood,  in  the  centre 
of  the  arena.  The  bull  himself  was  now 
becoming  perceptibly  exhausted,  and  his 
own  end  was  drawing  nigh. 

For  the  purpose  of  stimulating  and 
arousing  into  momentary  action  his  rapidly 
waning  strength,  the  assailants  on  foot  at- 
tacked him  with  barbed  darts,  called  hande- 
rillos,  which  they  thrust  with  skill  into  each 
side  of  his  brawny  neck.  Sometimes  these 
little  javelins  are  charged  with  a prepared 
powder,  which  explodes  the  instant  that  the 
sharp  steel  sinks  into  the  flesh.  The  tor- 
ture thus  produced  drives  the  wretched 
animal  to  the  extreme  of  madness,  who  bel- 
lows and  bounds  in  his  agony,  as  if  endued 
with  the  energy  of  a new  life. 

On  the  present  occasion,  the  arrows  used 
were  not  of  an  explosive  character,  yet  they 
served  scarcely  less  effectually  to  enrage 
the  furious  monster.  But  hark!  the  last 
trumpet  is  sounding  the  awful  death-knell 
of  the  warrior-beast.  The  ring  becomes  in- 
stantly cleared,  and  the  foaming  animal 
stands  motionless  and  alone,  sole  monai'ch 


A SPANISH  BULL  FIGHT. 


243 


of  the  arena.  But  the  fiat  has  gone  forth, 
and  the  doom  of  death  is  impending  over 
him.  The  matador  enters  the  ring  by  a se- 
cret door,  and,  after  bowing  to  the  presi- 
dent, and  throwing  down  his  cap  in  token 
of  respect,  slowly  and  deliberately  ap- 
proaches his  terrific  adversary,  who  stands 
as  if  enchained  to  the  spot  by  a conscious- 
ness of  the  fearful  destiny  that  awaits  him. 
The  matador,  undismayed  by  the  ferocious 
aspect  of  the  bull,  cautiously  advances, 
with  his  eyes  fixed  firmly  and  magnetically 
upon  him ; a bright  Toledo  blade  glistens 
in  his  right  hand,  while  in  his  left  he  car- 
ries the  muleta,  or  crimson  flag,  with  which 
to  exasperate  the  declining  spirit  of  his  foe. 

An  intense  stillness  reigns  throughout 
the  vast  assemblage,  the  most  critical 
point  of  the  tragedy  is  at  hand,  and  eveiy 
glance  is  rivetted  upon  the  person  and 
movements  of  the  matador.  A single  fatal 
thrust  may  launch  him  into  eternity,  yet 
no  expression  of  fear  escapes  him ; cool, 
and  self-possessed,  he  stands  before  his 
victim,  studious  of  every  motion,  and  pre- 


244 


A SPANISH  BULL  FIGHT. 


pared  to  take  advantage  of  any  chance  for 
the  decisive  blow. 

It  is  this  wonderful  display  of  skill  and 
bravery  that  fascinates  the  attention  of  a 
Spanish  audience,  and  not  the  shedding  of 
blood  or  the  sufferings  of  the  animal,  which 
are  as  much  lost  sight  of  in  the  excitement 
of  the  moment  as  the  gasping  of  a fish  or 
the  quivering  of  a worm  upon  the  hook  is 
disregarded  by  the  humane  disciple  of  Izaak 
Walton. 

The  bull  and  matador,  as  motionless  as  if 
carved  in  marble,  present  a fearfully  artistic 
effect.  At  length,  like  an  electric  flash, 
the  polished  steel  of  the  matador  flies  into 
the  air,  and  descends  with  tremendous  force 
into  the  neck  of  the  doomed  animal,  bury- 
ing itself  in  the  flesh,  even  up  to  the  hilt. 
The  blow  is  well  made,  and  from  the  mouth 
of  the  bull  gushes  forth  a crimson  stream : 
he  staggers,  drops  on  his  knees,  recovers 
himself  for  an  instant,  and  then  falls  dead 
at  the  feet  of  his  conqueror,  amid  the  tumul- 
tuous plaudits  of  the  excited  throng  of 
spectators. 


ConjgfHefoS' 

The  following  adventure  occurred  during 
the  residence  of  Captain  Stedman  in  Suri- 
nam : — The  captain  was  lying  in  his  ham- 
mock, as  his  vessel  floated  down  the  river, 
when  his  sentinel  told  him  he  had  seen  and 
challenged  something  black,  moving  in  the 
brushwood  on  the  beach,  which  gave  no 
answer.  Up  rose  the  captain,  manned  the 
canoe  that  accompanied  his  vessel,  and 
rowed  to  the  shore  to  ascertain  what  it  was. 
One  of  his  slaves  cried  out  that  it  was  no 
negro,  but  a great  snake  that  the  captain 
might  shoot  if  he  pleased.  The  captain 
having  no  such  inclination,  ordered  all  hands 
to  return  on  board.  The  slave,  David,  who 
had  first  challenged  the  snake,  then  begged 
leave  to  step  forward  and  shoot  it.  This 
seems  to  have  roused  the  captain,  for  he 

21*  (245) 


246  THE  CAPTAIN  AND  THE  BOA  CONSTRICTOR. 

determined  to  kill  it  himself,  and  loaded 
with  ball  cartridge. 

The  master  and  slave  then  proceeded. 
David  cut  a path  with  a bill-hook,  and  be- 
hind him  came  a marine  with  three  more 
loaded  guns.  They  had  not  got  above 
twenty  yards  through  mud  and  water,  the 
negro  looking  every  way  with  uncommon 
vivacity,  when  he  suddenly  called  out,  “ Me 
see  snakee!”  and,  sure  enough  there  the 
reptile  lay,  coiled  up  under  the  fallen  leaves 
and  rubbish  of  the  trees.  So  w’ell  covered 
was  it,  that  some  time  elapsed  before  the 
captain  could  perceive  its  head,  not  above 
sixteen  feet  from  him,  moving  its  forked 
tongue,  while  its  vividly-bright  eyes  ap- 
peared to  emit  sparks  of  fire.  The  captain 
now  rested  his  piece  upon  a branch,  to  se- 
cure a surer  aim,  and  fired.  The  ball  missed 
the  head,  but  went  through  the  body,  when 
the  snake  struck  round  with  such  astonish- 
ing force  as  to  cut  away  all  the  underwood 
around  it,  with  the  facility  of  a scythe  mow- 
ing grass,  and,  flouncing  with  its  tail,  made 
the  mud  and  dirt  fly  over  their  heads  to  a 


, 


A BOA  CONSTRICTOR. 


THE  CAPTAIN  AND  THE  BOA  CONSTRICTOR.  49 

considerable  distance.  This  commotion 
seems  to  have  sent  the  party  to  the  right 
about;  for  they  took  to  their  heels,  and 
crawled  into  the  canoes.  David,  however, 
enti’eated  the  captain  to  renew  the  charge, 
assuring  him  that  the  snake  would  be  quiet 
in  a few  minutes,  and  that  it  was  neither 
able  nor  inclined  to  pursue  them,  support- 
ing his  opinion  by  walking  before  the  cap- 
tain till  the  latter  should  be  ready  to  fire. 

They  now  found  the  snake  a little  re- 
moved from  its  former  station,  very  quiet, 
with  its  head  as  before,  lying  out  among 
the  fallen  leaves,  rotten  bark,  and  old  moss. 
Stedman  fired  at  it  immediately,  but  with 
no  better  success  than  at  first ; and  the  en- 
raged animal,  being  but  slightly  wounded 
by  the  second  shot,  sent  up  such  a cloud  of 
dust  and  dirt  as  the  captain  had  never  seen, 
except  in  a whirlwind ; and  away  they  all 
again  retreated  to  their  canoe.  Tired  of 
the  exploit,  Stedman  gave  orders  to  row  to- 
wards the  barge ; but  the  persevering  David 
still  entreating  that  he  might  be  permitted 
to  kill  the  reptile,  the  captain  determined 


250  THE  CAPTAIN  AND  THE  BOA  CONSTRICTOR. 

to  make  a third  and  last  attempt  in  his 
company ; and  they  this  time  direeted  their 
fire  with  such  effect  that  the  snake  was 
shot  by  one  of  them  through  the  head. 

The  vanquished  monster  was  then  secured 
by  a running-noose  passed  over  its  head, 
not  without  some  difficulty,  however ; for, 
though  it  was  mortally  wounded,  it  still 
continued  to  writhe  and  twist  itself  about 
so  as  to  render  a near  approach  dange- 
rous. The  serpent  was  dragged  to  the 
shore,  and  made  fast  to  the  canoe,  in  order 
that  it  might  be  towed  to  the  vessel,  and 
continued  swimming  like  an  eel  till  the 
])arty  arrived  on  board,  when  it  was  finally 
determined  that  the  snake  should  be  again 
taken  on  shore,  and  there  skinned  for  the 
sake  of  its  oil. 

This  was  accordingly  done;  and  David 
having  climbed  a tree  with  the  end  of  a rope 
in  his  hand,  let  it  down  over  a strong-forked 
bough,  the  other  negroes  hoisted  away,  and 
the  serpent  was  suspended  from  the  tree. 
Then,  David  quitting  the  tree,  with  a sharp 
knife  between  his  teeth,  clung  fast  uiion  the 


THE  CAPTAIN  AND  THE  BOA  CONSTRICTOR.  251 

suspended  snake,  still  twisting  and  twining, 
and  commenced  ripping  the  subject  up ; he 
then  stripped  down  the  skin  as  he  came 
down. 

Captain  Stedman  acknowledges,  that 
though  he  perceived  that  the  snake  was 
no  longer  able  to  do  the  operator  any 
harm,  he  could  not,  without  emotion,  see  a 
naked  man,  black  and  bloody,  clinging 
with  arms  and  legs  round  the  slimy  and 
yet  living  monster.  The  skin  and  above 
four  gallons  of  clarified  fat,  or  rather  oil, 
were  the  spoils  secured  on  this  occasion ; 
full  as  many  gallons  more  seem  to  have 
been  wasted.  The  negroes  cut  the  flesh 
into  pieces,  intending  to  feast  on  it ; but 
the  captain  would  not  permit  them  to  eat 
what  he  considered  disgusting  food,  though 
they  declared  that  it  was  exceedingly  good 
and  wholesome.  The  negroes  were  right, 
and  the  captain  was  wrong ; the  flesh  of 
most  serpents  is  very  good  and  nourishing, 
to  say  nothing  of  the  restorative  qualities 
attributed  to  it. 


ef|03  of  iije 

Where  there  is  such  a profusion  of  horses, 
the  i)eople  cannot  fail  to  be  all  riders ; and 
such  they  are,  bold  and  expert  beyond  all 
comparison  with  other  nations.  The  In- 
■ dians  of  the  Pampas  and  the  Prairies,  whose 
fathers  fled  in  horror  and  dismay  from  the 
fatal  apparition  of  the  Spanish  horses,  are 
now  literally  “incorporated  and  demi-na* 
tured  with  the  brave  beast.” 

(252) 


MOUNTED  INDIANS 


22 


%<■> 


.skaicm:  onoiito-sL'T-  dzoua  ?siarAZ^A. 


X%t;''i-»i-foo  x.nr.M 

- <Tfn^c1or5bfii iaoT^?^ox5<Fo3-ioi[ noj 

c<i.l  Oiliot>''"f  fi/iul  'aT'<’l  lioifr  .jriB7/' 
'Biifr-et  ;3W.r3rb.;inol  rnoil 

^ , Jaoteoig  'jtiT  ■Jim.-imbh  ^ >-’Ii  ban 

' '^ib  '/or*i  (mcdm’l  94.1  b'  obi/JiUB  ' 

♦,-  . , • -v^- ; .‘  • »•*  - 7.  Vv..;-  r \ .•■ 

,ga!Wi  614*407^:^*4 '.if  vr  ai  .o-ib[d 
•' od'b  ai' J ai5'  ^i*«£f  rtiabrtjsf' 

XU*4K>a5*JC;  ’?•“'■■  ao.t^fiqnooo 

. obaiirq  •*' ianii^x) 


■3!.'i  . \'A  i4-  ••)}.  ow*  i(S  Ji  ■• 


■'  ■’"<  innejJoF.)  ajf} 

. ->-A  '^ifi  •%i.J;i6j  b«fi  ■ 

: * t:  :r4  c4 a //Jh)0i 

'sFopJ/fe  .a'a^boooaob 

•'  ' ' '■';  -i*'”  '.  ■ 

.-•  • 0:.  AJi.aaoqajI  af'ar 

iff  ;>«].i  bBiiT-q,  . i','  .'lii/-' oi7 


>:  ■ 


>K 
y 

ii-l, 


r ■ - ■'  < — 

_ _,,^;q7/o  :.?v..t  jaKd‘.X^49fJp^.^j*'«  .Vj.s":Or  f^j.ibal.- 
\i«ftTr-'V  ‘.:  .>:j»  tnxi 


■iH 


r- 


"/>rfj  ‘ !■.!  >!'*  .' ■ ‘ : ajail  b 


■ nbT0,wm«.<j*i»Qt  ,-,tr  .v-Vi-L  ' vHfl, '« 

;r.'.  ,-l 


tT'-  ■• 


:<  ■ 


ADVENTURES  AMONG  TUE  GAUCHO  INDIANS.  255 

Many  of  the  tribes,  from  being  constantly 
on  horseback  from  their  infancy,  can  scarcely 
walk.  Their  legs  have  become  too  weak, 
from  long  disuse,  for  that  kind  of  progression, 
and  they  loathe  and  despise  it.  The  proudest 
attitude  of  the  human  figure,  as  they  de- 
clare, is  when  a man,  bending  over  his  horse, 
lance  in  hand,  is  riding  at  his  enemy.  The 
occupation  of  their  lives  is  war,  especially 
against  “ the  Christians,”  and  they  pursue 
it  for  two  objects, — to  steal  cattle,  and  for 
the  pleasure  of  murdering  the  people;  and 
they  will  even  leave  the  cattle  to  massacre 
and  torture  their  enemies,  such  is  their  fe- 
rocity, and  their  hereditary  hatred  to  the 
descendants  of  the  cruel  oppressors  of  their 
fathers. 

The  Gauchos,  who  themselves  ride  so 
beautifully,  declare  that  it  is  impossible  to 
vie  with  a mounted  Indian ; for  that  the 
Indian’s  horses  are  better  than  their  own, 
and  also  that  they  have  such  a way  of  urg- 
ing them  on  by  their  cries,  and  by  a pecu 
liar  motion  of  their  bodies,  that  even  if  they 
were  to  change  horses,  the  Indians  would 


256  ADVENTURES  AMONG  THE  GAUCHO  INDIANS. 

beat  them.  Mr.  Darwin  relates  a case  in 
which  this  fact  was  proved. 

At  Cholechel,  Bahia-Blanca,  General  Eo- 
sas’  troops  encountered  a tribe  of  Indians, 
of  whom  they  killed  twenty  or  thirty.  The 
cacique  escaped  in  a manner  which  sur- 
prised every  one ; the  chief  Indians  have 
always  one  or  two  picked  horses,  which  they 
keep  ready  for  any  urgent  occasion. 

On  one  of  these,  an  old  white  horse,  the 
cacique  sprung,  taking  with  him  his  little 
son ; the  horse  had  neither  saddle  nor  bridle. 
To  avoid  the  shots  the  Indian  rode  in  the 
peculiar  method  of  his  nation,  namely,  with 
an  arm  round  the  horse’s  neck,  and  one  leg 
on  its  back.  Thus  hanging  on  one  side  he 
was  seen  patting  the  horse’s  head,  and  talk- 
ing with  him.  The  pursuers  urged  every 
effort  in  the  chase;  the, commandant  three 
times  changed  his  horse,  but  all  in  vain ; 
the  old  Indian  father  and  his  son  escaped, 
and  were  free. 

What  a fine  picture  one  can  form  in  one’s 
mind ; the  naked  bronze-like  figure  of  the 
old  man  with  his  little  boy,  riding  like  a 


ADVENTURES  AMONG  THE  GAUCIIO  INDIANS.  257 

Mazeppa  on  the  white  horse,  thus  leaving 
far  behind  him  the  host  of  his  pursuers ! 

Colt  breaking  is  managed  by  the  Gau- 
chos,  or  Guassos,  as  they  are  called  in  Chili, 
with  the  lasso,  much  in  the  same  way  as  by 
the  Calmucks.  Their  skill  in  the  use  of 
this  instrument  is  extraordinary,  and  it  was 
a weapon  of  great  power  in  their  hands  dur- 
ing the  war  of  independence.  They  never 
failed  to  dismount  cavalry  with  it,  or  to 
throw  down  the  horses  of  those  who  came 
within  their  reach.  There  is  a well  authen- 
ticated story  of  eight  or  ten  Gauchos  who 
had  never  seen  a piece  of  artillery  until  one 
was  fired  at  them  in  the  streets  of  Buenos 
Ayres.  Notwithstanding  the  effect  of  the 
fire  they  galloped  fiercely  up  to  it,  placed 
their  lassos  over  the  cannon,  and  by  their 
united  strength  fairly  overturned  it. 

Another  anecdote  is  related  of  them, 
which  may  be  true,  though  it  does  not  rest 
on  such  good  authority.  A number  of 
armed  boats  were  sent  to  effect  a landing 
at  a certain  point  on  the  coast  guarded 
solely  by  these  horsemen.  The  party  in 

R 22* 


258  ADVENTURES  AMONG  THE  GAUCHO  INDIANS. 

the  boats  caring  little  for  an  enemy  unpro- 
vided with  fire-arms,  rowed  confidently 
along  the  shore.  The  Gauchos  meanwhile 
were  watching  their  opportunity,  and  the 
moment  the  boats  came  sufficiently  near, 
dashed  into  the  water,  and  throwing  their 
lassos  round  the  necks  of  the  officers,  fairly 
dragged  every  one  of  them  out  of  their 
boats. 

The  idea  of  being  thrown,  let  the  horse 
do  what  it  likes,  never  enters  the  head  of 
a Gaucho ; a good  rider,  according  to  them, 
is  a man  who  can  manage  an  untamed  colt, 
or  who,  if  his  horse  falls,  alights  unhurt  on 
his  own  feet.  “I  have  heard,”  says  Mr. 
Darwin,  “of  a man  betting  that  he  would 
throw  his  horse  down  twenty  times,  and 
that  nineteen  out  of  these  he  would  not  fall 
himself.  I recollect  seeing  a Gaucho  riding 
so  very  stubborn  a horse,  which  three  tinies 
reared  so  excessively  high  as  to  fall  back- 
wards with  great  violence.  The  man  judged 
with  uncommon  coolness  the  proper  mo- 
ment for  slipping  off,  not  an  instant  before 
or  after  the  right  time.  Directly  the  horse 


ADVENTURES  AMONG  THE  GAUCHO  INDIANS.  259 

rose,  the  man  jumped  on  his  back,  and  at 
.ast  they  started  on  a gallop.  The  Gaucho 
never  appears  to  exert  any  muscular  force. 
I was  one  day  watching  a good  rider,  as  we 
were  galloping  along  at  a rapid  pace,  and 
thought  to  myself,  surely  if  the  horse  starts, 
you  appear  so  careless  on  your  seat,  you 
must  fall.  At  this  moment  a male  ostrich 
sprang  from  its  nest  right  beneath  the  nose 
of  the  horse.  The  young  colt  bounded  on 
one  side  like  a stag;  but  as  for  the  man, 
all  that  could  be  said  was,  that  he  started 
and  took  fright  as  part  of  his  horse. 

“ In  Chili  and  Peru  more  pains  are  taken 
with  the  mouth  of  the  horse  than  in  La 
Plata,  and  this  is  evidently  in  consequence 
of  the  more  intricate  nature  of  the  country. 
In  Chili,  a horse  is  not  considered  perfectly 
broken  till  he  can  be  brought  up  standing, 
in  the  midst  of  his  full  speed,  on  any  par- 
ticular spot ; for  instance,  on  a cloak  thrown 
on  the  ground ; or  until  he  will  charge  a 
wall,  and,  rearing,  scrape  .the  surface  with 
his  hoofs.  I have  seen  an  animal  bound- 
ing with  spirit,  yet  merely  reined  by  a 


260  ADVENTURES  AMONG  THE  GAUCHO  INDIANS. 

fore-finger  and  thumb,  taken  at  full  gallop 
across  a court-yard,  and  then  made  to  wheel 
round  the  post  of  a verandah  with  great 
speed,  but  at  so  equal  a distance,  that  the 
rider,  with  outstretched  arm  all  the  while, 
kept  one  finger  rubbing  the  post;  then 
making  a demivolte  in  the  air,  with  the 
other  arm  outstretched  in  a like  manner,  he 
wheeled  round  in  an  astonishing  force  in  an 
opposite  direction. 

“ Such  a horse  is  well  broken,  and  though 
this  at  first  may  appear  useless,  it  is  far 
otherwise ; it  is  only  carrying  that  which 
is  daily  necessary  into  perfection.  When 
a bullock  is  checked  and  caught  by  the  lasso, 
it  will  sometimes  gollop  round  and  round 
in  a circle,  and  the  horse  being  alarmed  at 
the  great  strain,  if  not  well  broken,  will  not 
readily  turn  like  the  pivot  of  a wheel.  In 
consequence  many  men  have  been  killed ; 
for  if  the  lasso  once  makes  a twist  round 
a man’s  body,  it  will  instantly,  from  the 
power  of  the  two  opposed  animals,  almost 
cut  him  in  two. 

“ In  Chili,  I was  told  an  anecdote  which 


. y'^';M>^  A-,.;  >.,■■■ ; ;^ 

^-Air^a  oefe#^' .: 


ADVENTURES  AMONG  THE  GAUCUO  INDIANS.  263 

I believe  was  true,  and  it  offers  a good  illus- 
tration of  the  use  of  a w-ell  broken  animal. 
A respectable  man,  riding  one  day,  met 
two  others,  one  of  whom  was  mounted  on  a 
horse  which  he  knew  to  have  been  stolen 
from  himself.  He  challenged  them ; they 
answered  by  drawing  their  sabres  and  giving 
chase.  The  man  on  his  good  and  fleet 
beast  kept  just  ahead  ; as  he  passed  a thick 
bush  he  wheeled  round  it,  and  brought  up 
his  horse  to  a dead  check.  The  pursuers 
were  obliged  to  shoot  on  one  side  and  ahead. 
Then  instantly  dashing  on  right  behind 
them,  he  buried  his  knife  in  the  back  of 
one,  wounded  the  other,  recovered  his  horse 
from  the  dying  robber,  and  rode  home. 

“ For  these  feats  in  horsemanship  two 
things  are  necessary;  a most  severe  bit, 
like,  the  Mameluke,  the  power  of  which, 
though  seldom  used,  the  horse  knows  full 
well;  and  large  blunt  spurs,  that  can  be 
applied  either  as  a mere  touch,  or  as  an  in- 
strument of  mere  pain.  I conceive  that 
with  English  spurs,  the  slightest  touch  of 
which  pricks  the  skin,  it  would  be  impos- 


264  ADVENTURES  AMONG  THE  GAUCHO  INDIANS. 

Bible  to  break  a horse  after  the  South  Ame- 
rican fashion.” 

Nothing  is  done  on  foot  by  the  Gauchos 
that  can  possibly  be  done  on  horseback. 
Even. mounted  beggarmen  are  to  be  seen  in 
the  streets  of  Buenos  Ayres  and  Mendoza. 
The  butcher,  of  course,  plies  his  trade  on 
horseback,  in  the  manner  thus  described  by 
Basil  Hall ; “ The  cattle  had  been  driven 
into  an  enclosure,  or  corral,  whence  they 
were  now  let  out  one  by  one,  and  killed ; 
but  not  in  the  manner  practised  in  England, 
where  they  are  dragged  into  a house,  and 
despatched  by  blows  on  the  forehead  with 
a poleaxe.  Here  the  whole  took  place  in 
the  open  air,  and  resembled  rather  the  ca- 
tastrophe of  a grand  field-sport  than  a de- 
liberate slaughter.  On  a level  space  of 
ground  before  the  corral- were  ranged,  in  a 
line,  four  or  five  Gauchos  on  horseback, 
w'ith  their  lassos  in  their  hands,  and  oppo- 
site them  another  set  of  men,  similarly 
equipped,  so  as  to  form  a wide  lane,  ex- 
tending from  the  gate  of  the  corral  to  the 
distance  of  thirty  or  forty  yards.  When 


ADVENTURES  AMONG  THE  GAUCHO  INDIANS.  265 

all  was  prepared,  the  leader  of  the  Gauchos 
drew  out  the  bars  closing  the  entrance  to 
the  corral,  and,  riding  in,  separated  one 
from  the  drove,  which  he  goaded  till  it  es- 
caped at  the  opening.  The  reluctance  of 
the  cattle  to  quit  the  corral  was  evident, 
but  when  at  length  forced  to  do  so,  they 
dashed  forward  with  the  utmost  impetuosity. 
It  is  said,  that  in  this  country,  even  the 
wildest  animals  have  an  instinctive  horror 
of  the  lasso ; those  in  a domestic  state  cer- 
tainly have,  and  betray  fear  whenever  they 
see  it.  Be  this  as  it  may,  the  moment  they 
pass  the  gate,  they  spring  forward  at  full 
speed  with  all  the  appearance  of  terror. 
But  w'ere  they  to  go  ten  times  faster,  it 
would  avail  them  nothing  against  the  irre- 
sistible lasso,  which,  in  the  midst  of  dust 
and  confusion  seemingly  inextricable,  is 
placed  by  the  Gauchos,  with  the  most  per- 
fect correctness,  over  the  parts  aimed  at. 

“ There  cannot  be  conceived  a more  spi- 
rited or  more  picturesque  scene  than  was 
now  presented  to  us.  Let  the  furious  beast 
be  imagined  driven  almost  to  madness  by 

23 


266  ADVENTURES  AMONG  THE  GADCHO  INDIANS. 

thirst  and  a variety  of  irritations,  and  in 
the  utmost  terror  at  the  multitude  of  lassos 
whirling  all  around  him ; he  rushes  wildly 
forward,  his'  eyes  flashing  fire,  his  nostrils 
almost  touching  the  ground,  and  his  breath 
driving  off  the  dust  in  his  course.  For  one 
short  instant  he  is  free,  and  full  of  life  and 
strength,  defying,  as  it  were,  all  the^vorld 
to  restrain  him  in  his  headlong  course ; the 
next  moment  he  is  covered  with  lassos ; his 
horns,  his  neck,  his  legs  are  all  encircled 
by  those  inevitable  cords,  hanging  loose,  in 
long  festoons,  from  the  hands  of  the  horse- 
men, galloping  in  all  directions,  but  the 
next  instant  as  tight  as  bars  of  iron,  and 
the  noble  animal  lying  prostrate  on  the 
ground  motionless  and  helpless.  He  is  im- 
mediately despatched  by  a man  on  foot, 
who  stands  ready  for  this  purpose  with  a 
long  sharp  knife  in  his  hand ; and  as  soon 
as  the  body  is  disentangled  from  the  lassos, 
it  is  drawn  on  one  side,  and  another  beast 
is  driven  out  of  the  corral,  and  caught  in 
the  same  manner. 

While  the  more  serious  business  was 


A HERD  OF  WILD  HORSES. 


ADVENTURES  AMONG  THE  GAUCHO  INDIANS.  269 

going  on,  a parcel  of  mischievous  boys  had 
perched  themselves  on  a pile  of  firewood 
close  to  the  corral ; and  being  each  armed 
in  his  way,  with  a lasso  made  of  a small  strip 
of  hide,  or  of  whipcord,  got  the  first  chance 
to  noose  the  animals  as  they  rushed  out. 
They  seldom  failed  to  throw  successfully, 
but  their  slender  cords  broke  like  cobwebs. 
One  wicked  urchin,  indeed,  more  bold  than 
the  rest,  mounted  himself  on  a donkey  that 
happened  to  be  on  the  spot;  and  taking 
the  lasso  which  belonged  to  it — for  no  de- 
scription of  animal  that  is  ever  mounted  is 
without  this  essential  equipment  — and 
placing  himself  so  as  not  to  be  detected  by 
the  men,  he  threw  it  gallantly  over  the  first 
bullock’s  neck.  As  soon  as  it  became  tight, 
away  flew  the  astonished  donkey  and  his 
rider:  the  terrified  boy  soon  tumbled  off; 
but  poor  Neddy  was  dragged  along  the 
ground,  till  a more  efficient  force  was  made 
to  co-operate  with  his  unavailing  resistance. 

The  immense  abundance  of  horses  in 
South  America  cannot  be  more  strongly 
exemplified  than  by  the  following  account : 

23* 


270  ADYENTURES  AMONG  THE  GAUCHO  INDIANS. 

“ I have  still  in  my  possession,”  says  Mr. 
Robertson,  “a  contract  which  I made  in 
Goya,  with  an  estanciero,  for  twenty  thou- 
sand wild  horses,  to  be  taken  on  his  estate, 
at  the  price  of  a medio  each ; that  is  to  say, 
three  pence  for  each  horse  or  mare!  The 
slaughter  of  them  cost  three  pence  a head 
more ; the  staking  and  cleaning  of  the  hides, 
once  more,  three  pence ; and  lastly,  a like 
sum  for  the  carting  to  Goya : making  the 
whole  not  one  shilling  for  each  skin.  Of 
this  contract  ten  thousand  animals  were 
delivered ; the  skins  were  packed  in  bales 
and  sold  in  Buenos  Ayres  at  six  rials,  or 
three  shillings  each,  and  they  sold  ulti- 
mately in  England  for  seven  or  eight  shil- 
lings, that  is,  for  about  twenty-eight  or 
thirty  times  the  first  cost  of  the  horse  from 
which  the  skin  was  taken.  Such  is  the  ac- 
cumulative value  sometimes  of  the  produce 
which  is  taken  from  the  hands  of  the  grower 
in  one  country  before  it  gets  into  the  hands 
of  the  consumer  in  another.” 


I 


The  sheltie,  or  pony  of  the  Shetland  isles, 
is  a very  diminutive  animal,  sometimes 
not  more  than  thirty  inches  high,  and  rarely 
exceedingly  thirty-eight.  He  is  often  exceed- 
ing beautiful,  with  a small  head,  good  tem- 
pered countenance,  a short  neck,  fine  to- 
ward the  throttle,  shoulders  low  and  thick, 
in  so  little  a creature  far  from  being  a ble- 

(271) 


272  HUNTING  THE  SHETLAND  PONT. 

mish — back  short,  quarters  expanded  and 
powerful,  legs  flat  and  fine,  and  pretty 
round  feet.  These  ponies  possess  immense 
strength  for  their  size ; will  fatten  upon  al- 
most any  thing,  and  are  perfectly  docile. 
Mr.  Youatt  says  that  one  of  them,  three  feet 
in  height,  carried  a man  of  twelve  stone 
forty  miles  in  one  day. 

Pony  hunting  used  to  be  one  of  the  favo- 
rite amusements  of  the  Welsh  farmers  and 
peasantry  a century  and  a half  ago,  and  it 
has  not  even  now  fallen  into  disuse.  The 
following  story  of  one  of  these  expeditions 
is  related  in  the  Cambrian  Magazine. 

A farmer,  named  Hugo  Garonwy,  lived 
in  the  neighborhood  of  Llewyn  Georgie. 
Although  he  handled  the  small  tilt  plough, 
and  other  farming  tools  in  their  due  season, 
yet  the  catching  of  the  merlin,  the  fox,  and 
the  hare,  were  pursuits  more  congenial  to 
his  tastes ; and  the  tumbles  and  thumps 
which  he  received,  and  from  which  no  pony 
hunter  was  exempt,  served  but  to  attach 
him  to  the  sport.  Hugged,  however,  as  were 
the  Merioneddshire  coast  and  its  environs, 


HUNTING  THE  SHETLAND  PONY.  273 

and  abounding  with  precipices  and  mo- 
rasses, the  hunter  sometimes  experienced 
worse  mishaps,  and  so  it  happened  with 
Garonwy. 

He  set  out  one  morning  with  his  lasso 
coiled  round  his  waist,  and  attended  by 
two  hardy  dependents  and  their  greyhounds. 
The  lasso  was  then  familiar  to  the  Welsh- 
man, and  as  adroitly  managed  by  him  as 
by  any  Gaucho  on  the  plains  of  South 
America.  As  the  hunters  climbed  the 
mountain’s  brow,  the  distant  herd  of  ponies 
took  alarm— sometimes  galloping  onwards, 
and  then  suddenly  halting  and  wheeling 
round,  snorting  as  if  in  defiance  of  the  in- 
truders, and  furiously  pawing  the  ground. 
Garonwy,  with  the  assistance  of  his  ser- 
vants and  his  greyhounds,  contrived  to  coop 
them  up  in  the  corner  of  the  hills,  where 
perpendicular  rocks  prevented  their  escape. 

Already  had  he  captured  three  of  the 

most  beautiful  little  fellows  in  the  world. 

which  he  expected  to  sell  for  £4  or  £5  each 

. at  the  next  Bala  fair,  to  him  a considerable 

sum,  and  amounting  to  a fourth  of  the  an- 
s 


274  HUNTING  THE  SHETLAND  PONT. 

nual  rent  which  he  paid  for  his  sheep  walk. 
There  remained,  however,  one  most  untame- 
able  creature,  whose  crested  mane  and  flow- 
ing tail,  and  wild  eye,  and  distended  nos- 
tril showed  that  he  was  a perfect  Bucepha- 
lus of  the  hills ; nor,  indeed,  was  it  safe  to 
attack  him  in  the  ordinary  way.  Many  of 
the  three  year  olds  had  been  known  to  break 
the  legs  of  their  pursuers,  and  some  had 
been  dismounted  and  trampled  to  death. 

Garonwy  was  determined  to  give  the  no- 
ble fellow  a chase  over  the  hills,  and  so 
overcome  him  by  fatigue  before  the  lasso 
was  flung.  The  dogs  were  unslipped, 
and  off  they  went  swift  as  the  winds,  Ga- 
ronwy following,  and  the  two  assistants 
posted  in  a neighboring  eminence.  Vain 
was  the  efibrt  to  tire  the  merlin.  Hugo, 
naturally  impatient,  and  without  waiting 
to  ascertain  that  the  coils  were  all  clear, 
flung  the  lasso  over  the  head  of  the  wild 
horse.  The  extremity  of  the  cord  was 
twisted  round  his  own  body,  and  tightening 
as  the  animal  struggled,  the  compression 
became  insupportable,  and  at  length,  in 


HUNTING  THE  SHETLAND  PONT.  275 

spite  of  every  effort  to  disengage  himself, 
Garonwy  was  dragged  from  his  horse. 

The  affrighted  merlin,  finding  himself 
manacled  by  the  rope,  darted  off  with  all 
the  speed  of  which  he  was  capable,  dragging 
poor  Garonwy  over  the  rocky  ground  and 
stunted  brushwood.  This  occurred  at  some 
distance  from  the  men.  They  called  in 
their  dogs  that  the  speed  of  the  merlin 
might  not  be  increased ; but  ere  they  could 
arrive  at  the  spot  at  which  the  accident 
happened,  the  horse  and  the  man  had  va- 
nished. Whether  the  sufferings  of  the 
hunter  were  protracted,  or  he  was  dashed 
against  a rock  at  the  commencement  of  the 
horrible  race,  was  never  known ; but  the 
wild  animal,  frenzied  and  blinded  by  terror, 
rushed  over  a beetling  cliff,  at  a considerable 
distance,  overhanging  the  sea-shore,  and 
the  hunter  and  the  horse  were  found  at  the 
bottom,  a misshapen  semblance  of  what 
they  had  been  when  living. 


There  is  a species  of  snake  called  the 
python,  which  closely  resembles  the  true 
boa,  but  is  larger  and  more  terrible. 
Pythons  are  found  in  India,  Africa,  and 
Australia.  Wild  hogs,  antelopes,  and  even 
men  fall  victims  to  these  monsters.  They 
are  not  poisonous,  but  strangle  and  crush 
their  large  victims  by  powerful  compression. 
The  ular  sawa,  or  great  python  of  the  Siinda 
Isles  is  said  to  exceed,  when  full  grown, 
thirty  feet  in  length.  But  the  pythons  of 
India  have  excited  the  most  dread,  by  their 
awful  depredations. 

Some  years  ago,  an  Indian  ship  was 
passing  near  the  Sunderlands,  and  the  cap- 
tain sent  a boat  into  one  of  the  creeks  to 
obtain  some  fresh  fruits.  The  inhabitants 
(276) 


adventure  with  a python. 


w 


24 


ADVENTURE  WITH  A PYTHON.  279 

of  this  inhospitable  region  are  few  and  mi- 
serable. They  have  but  little  communica- 
tion with  the  rest  of  the  world,  and  that 
only  occurs,  when  passing  vessels  send  to 
purchase  some  of  their  fruits,  which  they 
are  chiefly  engaged  in  cultivating.  Having 
reached  the  shore,  the  crew,  six  in  number, 
moored  the  boat  under  a bank.  A lascar 
was  left  to  take  care  of  it,  while  the  rest  of 
the  party  went  after  the  fruit. 

The  day  was  very  hot.  Not  a breath 
stirred  the  trees,  whose  branches  overhung 
the  w'atei’.  The  birds  had  sought  the  cool 
groves  farther  inland.  The  sky  was  with- 
out a cloud,  and  like  burnished  brass — the 
w'ater  its  reflection.  The  air  seemed  stand- 
ing still  and  panting  for  a cool  breath.  The 
lascar  waited  patiently.  The  party  did  not 
return.  Probably,  they  were  forced  to  pro- 
ceed farther  to  get  the  fruit  than  they  ex- 
pected. A half-hour  passed  and  they  did 
not  appear.  The  lascar,  made  listless  by 
the  intense  heat,  sank  down  under  the  seats 
of  the  boat,  and  gradually  yielded  to  the 
soft  soothings  of  sleep.  In  a few  moments 


280  ADVENTURE  WITH  A PYTHON. 

after  lying  down,  he  was  dead  to  all  exter* 
nal  things.  He  did  not  feel  the  heat. 

Suddenly,  the  head  —eager  and  dreadful— 
of  an  enormous  snake,  of  the  python  spe- 
cies, peered  over  the  branch  of  a tree,  near 
the  boat.  It  quickly  glanced  around,  as  if 
to  assure  itself  that  no  wakeful  foes  were 
near,  and  slowly  stretched  its  head  down- 
ward toward  the  boat.  Good  heavens ! the 
lascar  remains  unconscious  of  the  monster’s 
advance.  How  it  licks  its  slimy  chops  in 
anticipation  of  a good  meal ! What  length  ! 
Many  feet  are  stretched  forward,  and  many 
remain  coiled  around  the  trunks  of  the  trees. 
Its  skin  is  glossy,  variegated,  and  very 
beautiful ; but,  oh ! how  deadly  will  be  the 
enormous  folds ! It  has  reached  the  boat, 
and  has  begun  to  coil  itself  around  the  body 
of  the  sleeping  lascar.  Its  jaws,  foul  and 
slimy,  are  extended ; its  forked  tongue  pro- 
trudes. Soon  the  coil  will  crush  the  bones 
of  the  man.  A yell  of  fear  and  surprise 
pierces  the  air.  The  lascar  awakes  to  feel 
his  awful  situation,  and  to  know  that  his 
friends  have  arrived,  and  are  at  work  for 


ADVENTURE  WITH  A PYTHON.  281 

deliverance.  A portion  of  the  monster’s 
tail  is  severed  with  a hatchet,  and  he  lost 
the  power  of  doing  mischief.  The  poor 
lascar  shrieks  to  his  companions  to  save 
him. 

A few  more  blows  with  oars  and  hatchets 
and  the  serpent  is  despatched,  its  head  be- 
ing severed  and  thrown  into  the  water.  The 
lascar  is  rescued,  and  is  but  slightly  bruised. 
Filled  with  joy  and  gratitude  he  embraces 
his  preservers.  Upon  measurement,  this 
serpent  w'as  found  to  be  sixty-two  feet  and 
some  inches  in  length.  With  the  skin  and 
some  of  the  fat,  which  the  natives  esteem 
for  its  curative  properties,  and  the  fruit 
which  they  had  purchased,  the  crew  of  the 
boat  returned  to  the  ship. 


24* 


of 

The  Zoological  Society  having  made 
known  its  wish  to  possess  living  specimens 
of  the  giraffe,  the  task  of  procuring  them 
was  undei’taken  by  M.  Thibaut,  who,  having 
had  twelve  years’  experience  in  African 
travel,  was  well  qualified  for  the  arduous 
pursuit. 

M.  Thibaut  quitted  Cairo  in  April,  1834, 
and  after  sailing  up  the  Nile  as  far  as  Wadi 
(282) 


1 


i 


HCNTOG  THE  QIKAFFB. 


✓ 


llr-  *■ 

^ , ‘ > />  • -t  t 

* ' B8S  •■"■  =esintw:»  % kjjqi^Ad , ^ M- 


...  - _ 
r '•:,  V’^v«*' ■ i'VyK..' 

'->  ■ * *-;  >. i J ^ ' ,'i"  ' ^'  1^ 


CAPTURE  OF  GIRAFFES. 


285 


Haifa,  the  second  cataract,  took  camels  and 
proceeded  to  Debbat,  a province  of  Dongo- 
lah,  whence  he  started  for  the  Desert  of 
Kordofan.  Being  perfectly  acquainted  with 
the  locality,  and  on  friendly  terms  with  the 
Arabs,  he  attached  them  still  more  by  the 
desire  of  profit ; all  were  desirous  of  accom- 
panying him  in  pursuit  of  the  giraffes,  for 
up  to  that  time,  they  had  hunted  them 
solely  for  the  sake  of  the  flesh,  which  they 
ate,  and  the  skin,  of  which  they  made 
bucklers  and  sandals.  The  party  proceeded 
to  the  south-west  of  Kordofan,  and  in  Au- 
gust were  rewarded  by  the  sight  of  two 
beautiful  giraffes;  a rapid  chase  of  three 
hours,  on  horses  accustomed  to  the  fatigues 
of  the  desert,  put  them  in  possession  of  the 
largest  of  these  noble  animals ; unable  to 
take  her  alive,  the  Arabs  killed  her  with 
blows  of  the  sabre,  and  cutting  her  to  pieces, 
carried  the  meat  to  their  head-quarters, 
which  had  been  established  in  a wooded 
situation,  an  arrangement  necessary  for 
their  own  comfort,  and  to  secure  pasturage 
for  their  camels.  They  deferred  till  the  fol- 


286 


CAPTURE  OF  GIRAFFES. 


lowing  day  the  motherless  young  one,  which 
the  Arabs  knew  they  would  have  no  diffi- 
culty in  again  discovering.  The  Arabs 
quickly  covered  the  live  embers  with  slices 
of  the  meat,  which  M.  Thibaut  pronounced 
to  be  excellent. 

On  the.  following  morning  the  party 
started  at  daybreak  in  search  of  the  young 
giraffe,  of  which  they  had  lost  sight  not  far 
from  the  camp.  The  sandy  desert  is  well 
adapted  to  afford  indications  to  a hunter, 
and  in  a very  short  time  they  were  on  the 
track  of  the  object  of  their  pursuit:  they 
followed  the  traces  with  rapidity  and  in  si- 
lence, lest  the  creature  should  be  alarmed 
while  yet  at  a distance ; but  after  a labo- 
rious chase  of  several  hours  through  bram- 
bles and  thorny  trees,  they  at  last  succeeded 
in  capturing  the  coveted  prize. 

It  was  now  necessary  to  rest  for  three  or 
four  days,  in  order  to  render  the  giraffe 
sufficiently  tame,  during  which  period  an 
Arab  constantly  held  it  at  the  end  of  a long 
cord;  by  degrees  it  became  accustomed  to 
the  presence  of  man,  and  was  induced  to 


CAPTURE  OF  GIRAFFES. 


287 


take  nourishment,  but  it  was  found  neces- 
sary to  insert  a finger  into  its  mouth  to  de- 
ceive it  into  the  idea  that  it  was  with  its 
dam ; it  then  sucked  freely.  When  cap- 
tured, its  age  was  about  nineteen  months. 
Five  giraffes  were  taken  by  the  party,  but 
the  cold  weather  of  December,  1 834,  killed 
four  of  them  in  the  desert,  on  the  route  to 
Dongolah ; happily  that  first  taken  survived, 
and  reached  Dongolah  in  January,  1835, 
after  a sojourn  of  twenty-two  days  in  the 
desert. 

Unwilling  to  leave  with  a solitary  speci- 
men, M.  Thibaut  returned  to  the  desert, 
where  he  remained  three  months,  crossing  it 
in  all  directions,  and  frequently  exposed  to 
great  hardships  and  privations ; but  he  was 
eventually  rewarded  by  obtaining  three  gi- 
raffes, all  smaller  than  the  first.  A great 
trial  awaited  them,  as  they  had  to  proceed 
by  water  the  whole  distance  from  Wadi 
Hafa  to  Cairo,  and  thence  to  Alexandria 
and  Malta,  besides  the  voyage  to  England. 
They  suffered  considerably  at  sea  during  a 
passage  of  twenty-four  days  in  very  tern- 


288 


CAPTURE  OF  GIRAFFES. 


pestuous  weather,  and  on  reaching  Malta,  * 
in  November,  were  detained  in  quarantine 
twenty-five  days  more ; but  despite  of  all 
these  difiiculties,  they  reached  England  in 
safety,  and  on  the  25th  of  May  were  con- 
ducted to  the  Gardens. 

At  daybreak,  the  keepers  and  several 
gentlemen  of  scientific  distinction  arrived 
at  the  Brunswick  wharf,  and  the  animals 
were  handed  over  to  them.  The  distance 
to  the  Gardens  was  not  less  than  six  miles, 
and  some  curiosity,  not  unmingled  with 
anxiety,  was  felt  as  to  how  this  would  be 
accomplished.  Bach  giraffe  was  led  be- 
tween two  keepers,  by  means  of  long  reins 
attached  to  the  head ; the  animals  walked 
at  a rapid  pace,  generally  in  advance  of 
their  conductors,  but  were  perfectly  tract- 
able. It  being  so  early  in  the  morning,  few 
persons  were’  about,  but  the  astonishment 
of  those  who  did  behold  the  unlooked-for 
procession,  was  ludicrous  in  the  extreme., 
As  the  giraffes  stalked  by,  followed  by  M. 
Thibaut  and  others,  in  Eastern  costume, 
the  worthy  policemen  and  early  coffee-sellers 


CAPTURE  OP  GIRAFFES. 


289 


stared  with  amazement,  and  a few  revellers, 
whose  reeling  steps  proclaimed  their  dissi- 
pation, evidently  doubted  whether  the  sin- 
gular figures  they  beheld  were  real  flesh 
and  bone,  or  fictions  conjured  up  by  their 
potations ; their  gaze  of  stupid  wonder  in- 
dicating that  of  the  two  they  inclined  to  the 
latter  opinion. 

When  the  giraffes  entered  the  park,  and 
first  caught  sight  of  the  green  trees,  they 
became  excited,  and  hauled  upon  the  reins, 
waving  the  head  and  neck  from  side  to  side, 
with  an  occasional  caracole  and  kick  out  of 
the  hind  legs,  but  M.  Thibaut  contrived  to 
coax  them  along  with  pieces  of  sugar,  of 
which  they  were  very  fond,  and  he  had  the 
satisfaction  of  depositing  his  valuable 
charges,  without  accident  or  misadventure, 
in  the  sanded  paddock  prepared  for  their 
reception. 


T 


25 


BY  JOHN  MILLS,  ESQ. 

Previously  to  the  introduction  of  Birming- 
ham and  Sheffield  manufactures  into  the 
Indian  market,  the  weapons  used  in  war 
and  hunting  were  of  an  exceedingly  primi- 
tive kind.  Instead  of  rifles,  scalping  knives, 
tomahawks,  and  two-edged  lances  of  po- 
lished steel,  the  North  American  bi’ave  pos- 
sessed but  a short  bow  made  of  bone  with 
(290) 


A BRUSH  WITH  A BISON. 


293 


twisted  sinews  for  strings,  and  a quiver  of 
flint-tipped  arrows,  with  a stone  hatchet, 
comprised  his  whole  stand-of-arms.  As.  a 
matter  of  course,  the  more  destructive  kinds 
of  instruments  introduced  at  once  increased 
the  slaughter  of  game,  and  from  the  eager- 
ness of  the  traders  to  exchange  their  goods 
for  skins,  led  the  Indians  to  destroy  those 
animals  by  wholesale  which  formerly  were 
killed  only  for  food  and  clothing  for  them- 
selves. Even  at  certain  seasons  of  the  year, 
when  the  fur  of  the  buffalo  is  in  the  worst 
possible  condition,  it  has  been  knowm  for 
vast  herds  to  be  exterminated  merely  for 
their  tongues,  which  would  be  bartered  for 
a few  gallons  of  villainous  whisky. 

The  numbers  still  raging  over  the  prai- 
ries are,  doubtless,  very  great,  extending 
from  the  w'estern  frontier  to  the  western 
verge  of  the  Eocky  Mountains,  and  from  the 
30th  to  the  55th  degree  of  northern  latitude ; 
but,  as  if  the  end  was  fixed  for  the  exter- 
mination of  this  the  principal  provision  of 
the  Indian,  with  the  Indian  himself,  they 
are  rapidly  becoming  thinned,  and  in  a few 

25* 


294 


A BRUSH  WITH  A BISON. 


years  it  is  highly  probable  that  a buffalO; 
in  its  native  state,  will  be  a rare  animal 
on  the  American  continent. 

It  is  worthy  of  a passing  reflection  to 
glance  at  the  particular  purposes  for  which 
the  buffalo  was  assigned : to  supply  the 
three  chief  wants  of  the  Indian,  as  they  are 
those  of  the  white  man — food,  raiment,  and 
lodging.  The  flesh  affords  ample  provision, 
the  skin  robes  for  clothing,  bedding,  and 
covering  to  his  wigwam,  while,  as  a further 
utility,  the  hoofs  are  melted  into  a glue  to 
assist  him  in  fabricating  his  shield,  arrows, 
and  other  necessary  articles  for  savage  life. 
It  may,  therefore  be  imagined  that  the  buf- 
falo is  indispensable  to  the  Indian’s  simple 
existence;  for  whatever  may  have  been  said 
and  written  concerning  schemes  for  his 
civilization,  I am  quite  certain  that,  from 
his  innate  indolence,  love  of  roving,  fierce 
passions,  and  unconquerable  desire  for  the 
excitement  of  war  and  hunting,  nothing 
can  be  more  impossible  than  that  any  such 
attempts  should  meet  with  a different  result 
than  positive  defeat. 


A BRUSH  WITH  A BISON. 


295 


We  were  now  on  the  verge  of  the  upper 
prairies,  no  longer  enameled  with  flowers 
and  flowering  plants,  but  covered  with  a 
short,  coarse  herbage,  called  “ buffalo  grass,” 
on  which  the  buffalo  loves  to  feed.  These 
hunting  grounds  are  far  easier  to  ride  over, 
from  being  free  of  vines  and  entangling 
shrubs  which  interlace  each  other  in  impen- 
etrable masses,  although  the  yawning  clefts, 
made  by  the  water  courses,  the  wallows 
caused  by  the  buffaloes  forming  baths  for 
themselves  by  ripping  the  earth  open  with 
their  heads  in  soft,  oozy  spots,  and  the  bur- 
rowing of  that  sharp  and  watchful  little 
animal  the  prairie  dog,  cause  both  horse 
and  horseman  to  run  considerable  risk  when 
taking  a spin  over  the  flat. 

The  serious  object  of  the  expedition  was 
now  on  the  eve  of  being  realized,  and  the 
land  of  promise  being  gained,  every  prepa- 
ration had  been  made  the  succeeding  morn- 
ing for  a regular  buffalo  hunt.  In  addition 
to  my  rifle  and  pistols,  I carried  a long 
lance  with  the  shaft  made  of  the  toughest 
ash.  This  weapon  I found  rather  unwieldy 


296 


A BRUSH  WITH  A BISON. 


and  awkward,  and  saw  how  different  it 
looked  in  the  hands  of  my  companions ; 
but  Hawkeye  insisted  that  it  was  indispen- 
sable, as  I could  not  attempt  the  use  of  the 
bow  and  arrow. 

Stripped  of  all  superfluous  garments,  and 
fully  equif)ped  for  the  expedition,  my  com- 
panions mounted  their  horses,  with  their 
lassos  uncoiled  and  trailing  upon  the  ground, 
as  invariably  is  the  rule  in  war  or  hunting, 
for  the  purpose  of  facilitating  the  re-capture 
of  the  animal  should  an  unlucky  separation 
take  place  between  the  rider  and  his  saddle. 
In  an  extended  line,  or  by  the  familiar  de- 
scription of  Indian  file,  we  began  this 
march  as  usual  just  at  ruddy  daybreak,  and 
were  not  far  advanced  on  the  great  prairie 
stretching  before  us  like  a vast  and  limit- 
less ocean,  when  Blackwolf,  who  headed  the 
force,  reined  in  his  dark  iron-grey  steed  with 
a sudden  jerk  which  sent  him  nearly  upon 
his  haunches.  In  an  instant  all  was  com- 
motion. Arrows  were  drawn  from  their 
quivers,  bow-strings  tried  and  thrummed, 
lances  poised,  and  every  eye  directed  to  the 


BLACKWOLF, 


i 


*1 


* 

4 


A BRUSH  WITH  A BISON.  299 

spot  Oh  whicli  the  chief  fixed  his  earnest 
and  flashing  gaze. 

Not  two  miles  distant,  and  grazing  in 
fancied  security  on  a piece  of  table  land  as 
level  as  a bowling-green,  a large  herd  of 
buffalo  was  descried,  looking  at  the  distance 
like  so  many  black  specks  on  the  waste. 
Some  I could  perceive  were  lying  down,  and 
the  scene  altogether  may  be  compared, 
without  violence  to  the  imagination,  to  what 
the  tourist  may  witness  by  the  aid  of  rail- 
roads, within  a few  hours  of  the  metropolis, 
in  a canter  across  Dartmoor  or  Exmouth, 
and  where  no  dread  exists  of  Pawnees  and 
Camanches. 

It  was  decided  that  we  should  head  the 
herd,  and  endeavor  to  drive  them  back  to- 
wards the  encampment,  in  order  to  save  as 
little  time  and  trouble  as  possible  in  getting 
the  meat  and  skins  to  that  quarter.  In 
prosecuting  this  scheme  we  had  to  make  a 
wide  circle  from  the  direct  course,  and,  in- 
deed, it  would  have  been  imj^ossible  to  ap- 
proach them  in  any  other  way,  as  we  were 
* down  the  wind,  and  their  powers  of  scent, 


300 


A BRUSH  WITH  A BISON. 


like  those  given  to  the  denizens  of  the  wild 
in  general,  are  of  the  most  acute  order. 

“ You  know,  major,”  observed  Hawkej^e, 
as  he  turned  our  horses  considerably  to  the 
left,  for  the  purpose  of  covering  our  circum- 
venting manoeuvre  under  the  screen  of  two 
lines  of  bluffs  running  parallel  with  each 
other,  “You  know,  major,”  repeated  he, 
with  a sly  twinkle  of  satire  in  his  snake-like 
eyes,  “for  all  Britishers  dat  come  here  say 
ym  know  to  every  thing,  dat  buffafo  smell 
Indian  mile  off.  No  see  far ; but  smell — 
Hah ! no  saying  how  far  buffafo  smell.” 

It  was  a moment  of  the  most  thrilling 
excitement  of  my  life,  as  with  a swoop  the 
Indians  dashed  ahead,  and  with  halter  and 
rein  dangling  free,  to  see  their  horses  strain 
their  utmost  powers  to  outstrip  the  fugi- 
tives, and  bring  them  within  the  reach  of 
bow  and  lance.  Nigger,  I may  confidently 
state,  did  his  best,  although  in  a very  short 
distance,  it  was  conclusively  obvious  that 
he  could  not  long  live  the  pace  we  were 
going  at.  The  pony,  however,  rattled  away 
with  his  ears  thrown  back  like  a racehorse. 


A BRUSH  WITH  A BISON. 


301 


at  his  final  efibrt,  and  we  were  within  a few 
score  yards  at  the  moment  of  Blackwolf’s 
bearing  close  to  the  right  side  of  the  nearest 
buffalo,  and  drawing  his  bow  at  the  moment 
of  passing,  buried  the  arrow  to  the  feather. 
In  an  instant  the  horse  wheeled  to  avoid 
the  thrust  which  the  wounded  buffalo  often 
makes ; but  Blackwolf’s  victim  was  stricken 
in  a vital  part,  and  he  rolled  over  struggling 
and  bleeding  in  the  throes  of  deadly  agony. 
Eight  and  left  the  Indians  scoured  the  plain 
in  hot  pursuit  of  the  doomed  and  frightened 
animals,  and  never  halting  in  the  chase, 
but  rushing  from  one  to  another  as  the 
huge  beasts  shouldered  along  in  their  un- 
gainly gallop  down  the  valleys  and  over 
the  bluffs,  and  across  huge  gaping  rents  in 
the  prairie,  caused  by  the  winter  torrents, 
brought  them  to  the  ground  like  skittles 
from  well-directed  hands. 

There  appeared  to  be  no  chance  for  me 
to  flesh  my  maiden  lance,  and  I began  to 
despair  of  adding  a single  head  to  the  num- 
ber slain,  when  I caught  sight  of  a solitary 
fugitive  stealing  away  through  a stony  ra- 


r 


302 


A BRUSH  WITH  A BISON. 


vine  much  to  the  left  of  the  line  which  the 
rest  had  taken,  and  from  his  action  I con- 
cluded that  he  had  met  with  a wound 
which  materially  interfered  with  his  speed. 
With  an  unequivocal  disposition  to  refuse 
taking  any  other  course  than  the  one  he 
was  pursuing,  Nigger  began  to  wrestle  for 
the  mastershii),  and  being  encumbered  with 
my  lance,  I had  some  little  difficulty  in 
pricking  him  toward  the  point  where  the 
buffalo,  alone  in  his  flight,  was  using  his 
best  energies  to  escape.  The  pointed  ii’on, 
however,  prevailed,  .and  the  plucky  little 
horse,  seeing  the  animal  scramble  over  a 
conical  shaped  hillock  in  the  distance,  set- 
tled himself  again  in  his  best  pace,  and  car- 
ried me  forward  in  winning  style. 

After  floundering  through  a spongy  bot- 
tom, in  which  were  several  wallows  of  some 
dozen  feet  in  diameter  made  by  the  buffa- 
loes, I found  myself  near  enough  to  try  the 
the  effect  of  lead,  and  dropping  my  lance  to 
trail  along  the  ground  by  a thong  attached 
to  my  wrist,  for  I was  not  expert  enough  to 
handle  both  it  and  my  rifle,  as  an  Indian 


A BRUSH  WITH  A BISON. 


303 


would  have  done  without  inconvenience,  1 
brought  the  barrels  to  bear  and  gave  the 
contents  of  both  just  as  Nigger’s  nose  was 
on  a level  with  the  haunch  of  one  of  the 
largest  and  blackest  bulls  that  ever  ranged 
over  a western  plain. 

With  due  regard  for  the  preservation  of 
himself,  and  possibly  his  rider.  Nigger  made 
an  abrupt  curve,  and  sheering  off,  almost 
at  a right  angle,  avoiding  an  ugly,  vicious 
thrust,  which  the  bull  might  have  made 
much  more  effective  than  my  brace  of  bul- 
lets, had  not  the  sagacity  of  the  pony  taught 
him  to  avoid  it.  Upon  reining  in  my  gal- 
lant and  discreet  little  steed,  and  turning 
his  head  again  toward  the  buffalo,  I saw 
that  he  was  standing  still,  and  giving  as 
bold  a front  as  was  ever  offered  to  an  enemy. 
Coming  to  a corresponding  attitude,  I deli- 
berately reloaded  my  rifle,  and  approached 
him  with  the  greatest  caution ; for  whether 
he  intended  to  await  my  second  attack,  or 
plunge  forward  and  send  me  and  Nigger 
skimming  to  some  unknown  corner  of  the 
earth,  appearing  a matter  of  doubt  not  quite 

26* 


304 


A BRUSH  WITH  A BISON. 


made  up.  After  a few  brief  moments  for 
reconnoitring,  I urged  Nigger  to  advance 
to  within  less  than  thirty  paces  of  where 
the  bull  stood  glaring  at  us,  with  his  curling 
mane  and  beard  sweeping  below  his  knees, 
and  his  distended  jaws  dropping  foam, 
scarlet  dyed  with  blood.  Nothing,  indeed, 
can  be  imagined  more  ferocious  than  the 
wounded  animal  looked,  fixing  the  peculiar 
white  ball  and  black  iris  of  his  eyes  upon 
us,  under  his  shaggy  frontlet,  with  the  ex- 
pression of  the  devil  in  a mood  far  from 
funny.  Thinking  it  expedient  to  bring  the 
contest  to  a conclusion  without  further 
waste  of  time,  I essayed  a manoeuvre  in 
order  to  obtain  a sight  of  a more  vulnerable 
part  of  my  victim’s  carcass  than  that  which, 
as  I had  been  given  to  understand  by  Hawk- 
eye,  his  head  presented. 

But,  as  the  baited  grimalkin  turns  to  the 
worrying  cur,  so  did  the  bull  turn  exactly 
with  my  movements,  ever  presenting  his 
head,  and  nothing  but  his  head.  This  prov- 
ing exceedingly  wearisome,  and  quickly  ex- 
hausting the  slender  stock  of  patience  with 


A BCFFALO  IIUA’T. 


1 


A BRUSH  WITH  A BISON.  307 

which  nature  supplied  me  at  my  birth,  I 
resolved  to  try  what  a shot  would  do  in  the 
centre  of  his  forehead,  and  steadying  Nigger 
for  a moment,  snapped  my  left  barrel  at 
him,  when  with  the  crack  down  he  dropped, 
and  spurring  forward  in  the  belief  that  I 
had  given  him  his  coup  de  grace,  I was  not  a 
little  surprised  to  see  him  stagger  again  to 
his  feet,  ready  to  receive  me  on  his  two 
short  black  horns,  curved  in  the  best  pos- 
sible shape  for  the  ripping  business. 

Perceiving,  however,  that  notwithstand- 
ing that  the  last  bullet  had  only  flattened 
on  his  os  frontis,  he  was  fast  sinking  from 
the  internal  hemorrhage  caused  by  the  two 
first,  which  brought  him  to  a check,  I de- 
termined to  expend  no  more  valuable  am- 
munition upon  him,  but  inflict  a final 
thrust  or  two  of  cold  steel.  Eeslinging  my 
rifle  across  my  shoulders,  I for  the  first  time 
couched  a lance  for  a deadly  object,  and 
rode  at  the  bull’s  flank ; but  he  was  too 
quick  for  me,  and  turned  as  if  upon  a pivot. 
Eound  and  round  we  went.  Nigger,  with 
pricked  ears  and  nimble  limbs,  keeping  a 


308 


A BRUSH  WITH  A BISON. 


steady  look  upon  the  butfalo’s  movements, 
and  far  from  liking  the  loud  snorts  of  min- 
gled rage  and  pain  which  he  momentarily 
sent  forth  as  we  whirled  about  him.  But 
the  attempts  of  the  enemy  to  foil  our  pur- 
pose grew  gradually  weaker,  and  at  length, 
failing  to  twist  with  his  former  adroitness, 
I plunged  the  head  of  the  lance  to  the  shaft 
in  his  body,  and  as  I plucked  it  out,  the 
crimson  current  of  his  life  poured  forth,  and 
falling  upon  his  knees,  he  rolled  over  dead 
without  a struggle. 


li 


I 


GETTY  RESEARCH  INSTITUTE 


3 3125  01499  4848 


